HANOI, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- As the Lunar New Year draws near, horse imagery has begun to appear widely across streets, galleries and public spaces in Vietnam, reflecting the festive atmosphere surrounding the arrival of the Year of the Horse in the traditional lunar zodiac.
In Vietnamese culture, the Lunar New Year marks the most important holiday of the year, when families reunite, homes are decorated, and symbolic animals associated with the zodiac year are displayed to convey wishes for luck, vitality and harmony in the year ahead.
French tourist Louise Oiseau and her friends found themselves unexpectedly immersed in a series of horse-themed art exhibitions in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, discovering that the image of the horse here carries meanings strikingly different from those in her home culture.
"In France, horses are associated with sports, art, the military, as well as transport and liberty," Louise said, adding that the horses she encountered in Vietnam appeared stronger and more powerful, while those in her country tend to feel gentler.
Art exhibitions featuring horses have been organized at several venues, where local artists interpret the zodiac animal in diverse forms and concepts, reflecting not only their personal perspectives but also the country's festive atmosphere.
Among them is Le Huy, whose ceramic horse collection has drawn public attention with its rounded shapes and traditional lacquer coating, presenting the animal in a gentle and approachable style rather than emphasizing speed or strength.
"Our horse imagery conveys a spirit that is not overly soaring or galloping. We hope everyone can find their own moments of relaxation and leisure," Huy said, describing his works as expressions for the upcoming lunar year.
Beyond gallery spaces, horse motifs also appear in stamp designs issued specially for the new year, where traditional drums, bright colors and folk patterns are incorporated to align with the celebratory mood.
Nguyen Quang Vinh, designer of a special Lunar New Year horse stamp collection, said his artwork includes two individual stamps and one souvenir sheet, each featuring a horse carrying traditional festival drums in vibrant colors, blending folk symbolism with a contemporary graphic style.
"When two horses are put together as a set, they create a Vietnamese musical ensemble," Vinh told Xinhua, explaining that drums are musical instruments often used by Vietnamese people to officially begin village festivals during the Lunar New Year.
As a creative professional himself, Vinh compared artists to war horses in the year ahead. "They are always in a strong, forward-moving posture and constantly leading trends," he said.
Horse-themed cultural works have appeared widely across the country, on the streets and inside homes as decorations. For many residents, however, these horse images are not just artistic and decorative expressions, but also symbols of hope for professional growth and personal progress.
Tran Thi Kim Chi, a young teacher in Hanoi preparing for a public-sector teaching examination, said the image of horses also reflects her expectations for her career path in the year ahead.
"I hope that in the coming year my work will go more smoothly and that I will progress toward my goals faster, like a galloping horse," Chi told Xinhua. ■