Hanoi (VNA) - As Spring arrives, a lively surge of emotions fills everyone, indicating that Tet is approaching. Not only Vietnamese, foreigners in Vietnam are also excitedly awaiting Tet, which is the biggest celebration of the year. When asked about his plans for celebrating Tet this year, Canadian Ambassador Shawn Steil smiled brightly and shared that he loves to experience the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in Hanoi instead of traveling elsewhere. Ambassador Shawn Steil and his spouse went to the Nhat Tan peach gardens in Hanoi to choose a beautiful peach blossom branch together. They then wandered through Hanoi's Old Quarter to shop for decorations and lucky money envelopes as per Vietnamese custom. The ambassador believes that Vietnam and Canada have had a successful year in diplomatic relations. In 2024, cooperation between the two countries will further flourish, particularly in trade and other sectors, the diplomat maintained. A few days before Tet, Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Solbakken, accompanied by her husband and daughter, experienced the culture and traditions of celebrating the traditional Tet holiday in the ancient village  of Duong Lam, Son Tay, Hanoi.

From the moment they entered the gates of Mong Phu village, visited Mia Pagoda, learned about traditional lacquer art, or discovered how to make che lam༒, the diplomat and her family embarked on one surprise after another.

She expressed her appreciation when seeing Vietnamese people treasuring their traditional values, always remembering their history, and being ready to share that knowledge with foreign visitors. Sharing with VietnamPlus reporters, the Norwegian Ambassador expressed her fondness for Tet. She felt the lively atmosphere of Tet as the lunar December approached, with everyone bustling about to choose cherry blossom branches or kumquat trees to decorate their homes. In her capacity as a diplomat, Hilde Solbakken enthusiastically shared that in 2024, Vietnam and Norway will enhance cooperation to address climate change and reduce plastic pollution. Specifically, the Norwegian government will provide technological assistance to the Vietnamese cement industry to enhance its capacity in processing non-recyclable plastic waste, reduce coal consumption, and contribute to achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. For Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolai Prytz, the Tet is an opportunity to learn more about Vietnamese customs, traditions, and cultural life. The Ambassador began his term in September 2022 and celebrated the Tet of the Year of the Cat. That experience left a positive and profound impression on him. He looks forward to the new year opening up a fresh chapter in the collaboration between the two nations. As a diplomat, he has numerous plans for his tenure, particularly initiatives to advance the Green Strategic Partnership (GSP) between Denmark and Vietnam. Vietnam is the fifth country with which Denmark has established a GSP, alongside India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, and South Africa. Under the GSP framework, Denmark will continue to support Vietnam in achieving both goals: becoming a high-income country by 2045 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050./.