Lunar new year ushers in the Year of the Pig

It's goodbye to the year of the dog and an enthusiastic welcome to the year of the pig.

Preparing to celebrate Tet, or Lunar New Year, in Hanoi, Vietnam Source: AAP

February 5 marks the new year for many Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other communities throughout the world.

Also known as the Lunar New Year, the date varies each year from late January to late February, with new year's eve falling on the first new moon of the new year.