As the Year of the Rooster draws close to the end of the lunar-solar calendar, the Vietnamese community is readying to welcome 2018 as the Year of the Dog.

This year’s Lunar New Year celebration has begun in Melbourne, beginning with the north-western suburb of St Albans showcasing many interesting cultural activities.

Like every year, starting at 10am, numerous food and beverage stalls were lined up on Alfrieda Street.

The familiar street food of Vietnam brought again a sense of closeness to festival goers, with bánh khọt (Vietnamese mini-pancake), bò lá lốt (grilled beef in wild betel leaf) and sugar cane drinks all present at the fair.

Event organisers also set up a vibrant music scene with many familiar voices, including Vietnamese singers from Sydney to perform.

Once again, the festival featured traditional lion dancing parading through the street to welcome people of all cultural backgrounds to the celebrations.

St Albans is home to the largest Vietnamese community in Victoria. Every year, it is also the first place where the traditional Lunar New Year activities begin – drawing thousands of people from all over Melbourne.

The next fair is scheduled to take place in Footscray, followed by Richmond, the Melbourne Showground and then Springvale.

See below for the upcoming dates of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year festivals in Melbourne: