TẾT Art 2026: A space of cultural and creative convergence in UEH Academic Environment

05 Feb, 2026

From January 20 to March 15, 2026, the TẾT Art 2026 event series took place at Campus A and Campus B of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). The program was co-organized by the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD), ArtTech Hub, and School of Media Design (SMD), aiming to disseminate the cultural values of the traditional Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday through the language of contemporary art and technology. Under the theme “Horse Flying For a Prospectus Society,” TẾT Art 2026 featured a diverse range of activities, connecting academia, practice, and creativity.

Art Exhibition: Humans in convergence and connection

Placing human beings at the center, the exhibition within the framework of TẾT Art 2026 explored the flow of convergence between tradition and modernity, between Vietnamese cultural identity and the global context. The exhibition spaces at UEH Campus A and Campus B showcased a diverse collection of sculptures and paintings in various materials, styles, and visual languages, bringing together artists from the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (VFAA) as well as those with significant contributions to contemporary Vietnamese art.

Selected artworks such as: “Primeval Forest” (Rừng nguyên sinh) and “Whispering Sea” (Biển thì thầm) by artist Van Dieu Linh; The World No. 8 (Thế giới số 8) and The World No. 9 (Thế giới số 9) by artist Bui Hai Duong; and Early Season Fragrance (Hương đầu mùa) by artist Dinh Dang Giang exhibited at UEH Campus A

At UEH Campus B (3rd floor), oil paintings by artist Nguyen Duy Nhut evoked the theme “The transformation of inner consciousness” (Sự chuyển biến của nội thức), reflecting human inner journeys and self-awareness in modern life. Alongside these works, a series of oil and acrylic paintings by artist Tran Nhu Viet Anh (22 GALLERY) depicted everyday rhythms and traditional market spaces, creating a simple yet culturally rich dialogue.

Artworks exhibited at UEH Campus B

Creative Showcase: The Imprint of UEH’s Student Generation

The Creative Showcase affirmed UEH’s educational philosophy of integrating academic learning with practice. Students presented and demonstrated interdisciplinary products developed from various courses such as design, multimedia communication, video production, animation, and storytelling. Particularly notable were technology-integrated ideas, including Augmented Reality (AR) greeting cards displayed on an interactive tree installation, offering vivid and engaging experiences. In parallel, the Spring Tree activity - an interactive space for hanging Tết greeting cards, enabled students to convey messages of connection, sharing, and hope, contributing to the dissemination of traditional Tết values within a modern university setting.

Creative Showcase space at UEH Campus B

“Tết Market” – Spring welcoming 2026: Connecting culture and community

The “Tết Market” – Spring Welcoming 2026 was organized as a multidimensional convergence space of culture, creativity, and community, with active participation from UEH students, young creative groups, and partner organizations. Booths featuring handicrafts, creative designs, Tết publications, and artistic gifts demonstrated fresh approaches by younger generations toward traditional cultural heritage. Notable projects included “Lục Vận Khai Xuân” (inspired by the folk game Bau Cua Tom Ca), “Sắc Xuân Thanh Tiên” (telling the story of Thanh Tien paper flowers from Hue), “Phúc Mã Du Xuân” (combining the tradition of hanging the character “Phúc,” which symbolizes happiness and good fortune in Vietnamese culture with the legend of the twelve zodiac animals), and “Tết Nô Lo Gỳ”(recreating the warmth of the family kitchen). Through these creative models, the market contributed to renewing narratives of Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year in a sustainable, human-centered manner, while strengthening community bonds.

Creative booths “Lục Vận Khai Xuân”,“Sắc Xuân Thanh Tiên”, “Phúc Mã Du Xuân”, “Tết Nô Lo Gỳ” at UEH Campus B

UEH Hackathon: “Beyond Time - 50 UEH Stories” - an academic and creative activity reimagining UEH through historical milestones

The UEH Hackathon: “Beyond Time - 50 UEH Stories” was an intensive academic–creative activity encouraging students to reinterpret UEH’s historical milestones through multimedia technologies and digital storytelling. During the high-intensity 24-hour challenge, students from Technology, Design, Business, and Communication disciplines collaborated in interdisciplinary teams to develop products combining graphic design, digital illustration, AR interaction, and user experience design. With 09 teams and over 40 participants, the competition exemplified the spirit of “academic learning linked with practice,” while opening opportunities for applying creative products within activities commemorating UEH’s 50th anniversary (October 27, 1976 - October 27, 2026). The Organizing Committee honored outstanding teams with the following awards:

Co-Second Prize: UEH Time Walker (Team “Năm Không Nhuận”) and RotoGradu UEH 50 (Team “Mỹ Nữ Thành Danh”)
Third Prize: UEH – Steps to Discover (Team “Tấm Lòng Cửu Long”)

Teams presenting project ideas during the UEH Hackathon: “Beyond Time – 50 UEH Stories”

Mediaverse 2025 - The creative universe of UEH students

Mediaverse 2025 was implemented as a series of interdisciplinary academic and creative activities toward the milestone of UEH’s 50th anniversary, aiming to build a “storytelling universe” within the university environment and positioning students at the center of creativity and future-making. The program began with activation activities such as Finding U in UEH 50 – Where Are You in UEH’s Journey? and Drawing Your Favorite 2D Character, helping students identify themselves and connect with UEH’s history through creative and technological experiences.

Throughout the journey, Mediaverse 2025 stood out with a range of prominent academic–creative competitions, including Interactive Design – Color of Culture, Interactive Design – Echo of Peace, UEH Hackathon “Beyond Time – 50 UEH Stories”, Solar ARt, Lunar Light & Wishes, ARt Horse 2026 – In Search of the Sacred Pegasus, Ignite ATF 26, and Zeeniverse by U. These activities created diverse experimental spaces where students explored cultural, historical, peace-related, sustainability, and green university values through interactive design, digital storytelling, visual arts, AR, and exhibition models.

Art & Media Creative Recognition Ceremony

The Art & Media Creative Recognition Ceremony concluded the TẾT Art 2026 event series, co-organized by the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD), ArtTech Hub, and School of Media Design (SMD). This ceremony marked an important milestone in summarizing, recognizing, and disseminating outstanding contributions from artists, inspirational individuals, and students in the fields of art, media, and technology during the academic year, reaffirming creativity as a driving force for academic value and sustainable development in higher education.

Key recognition categories included: Interactive Design Recognition, Music Inspiration Recognition, Media Impact Recognition, Art Inspiration Recognition and Signature Creative Recognition, honoring exemplary individuals, groups, and works across interactive design, music, media, and artistic creation.

Within the program, the Interim Executive Board of the ArtTech Club was officially introduced, marking the beginning of a new academic–creative community within the ArtTech Hub ecosystem, connecting technology, art, and innovative thinking toward a sustainable space for practice, research, and co-creation for UEH students.

The ceremony not only reviewed notable achievements but also reaffirmed UEH’s commitment to promoting academic learning linked with practice, creativity associated with social responsibility, and the continued development of a sustainable art–media–technology ecosystem in the contemporary context.

Art & Media Creative Recognition Ceremony and the introduction of the Interim Executive Board of ArtTech Club

The “TẾT Art 2026” event series not only recreated the atmosphere of the traditional Tết (Lunar New Year) through the language of contemporary art and technology, but also affirmed UEH’s role as a creative academic environment where knowledge, practice, and cultural identity go hand in hand. Through multidisciplinary creative activities, the program served not only as a cultural gathering at the beginning of the year but also as a testament to UEH’s commitment to innovation, community connection, and sustainable development in its journey of growth and global integration.

Additional highlights from the event:

Activities at the art exhibition and the Tết market

Emotional artistic performances by the International Choir and Orchestra Ho Chi Minh City, the La Muse de Petits Chamber Music Club, and the Deaf community

Delegates and participants taking commemorative photos at the Art & Media Creative Recognition Ceremony

About the “TẾT Art” event series

The “TẾT Art” event series is an annual cultural–academic program co-organized by the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD), ArtTech Hub, and School of Media Design (SMD), with the aim of creating a convergence space for art, technology, and education within the university environment. Through a wide range of activities such as art exhibitions, creative showcases, community engagement initiatives, and specialized academic programs, “TẾT Art” contributes to reinterpreting and revitalizing the values of the traditional “Tết” (Lunar New Year) holiday through contemporary creative language. The series not only honors Vietnam’s cultural identity but also affirms the role of students as creative agents and co-creators of value, thereby promoting academic learning linked with practice, innovation, and social responsibility, toward sustainable development in the context of global integration.

News, photos: Department of Communications and Partnerships, School of Media Design