Firework display in Hanoi (Photo for illustration/ Source: hanoimoi.vn)
In Hanoi, firework displays will be held at 30 different locations from 00h00-00h15 on January 25th, the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Rat (Tet).
The fireworks will take place at high altitudes in six locations, including Hoan Kiem lake (Hoan Kiem district), Lac Long Quan Flower Garden (Tay Ho district), My Dinh Stadium (Nam Tu Liem district), Thong Nhat Park (Hai Ba Trung district), Van Quan lake (Ha Dong district), and Son Tay Old Citadel (Son Tay town).
24 other locations will also have fireworks set off from lower heights in Thanh Xuan, Ba Dinh, Bac Tu Liem, Cau Giay, Thanh Tri, Hoang Mai, Gia Lam, Long Bien and other districts.
Photo for illustration (Source: dangcongsan.vn)
In addition, diverse cultural activities have been re-enacted specially for Vietnamese Tet throughout Hanoi’s Old Quarter and pedestrian streets. The most important ritual was the erection of Neu pole, a tall bamboo tree with red garment strips used to ward off evil spirits during Tet, at a flower garden in front of Ngoc Son temple at Hoan Kiem lake.
A worshiping ritual for the tutelary god, folk singing, and exhibitions of Kim Hoang paintings, Dong Ho paintings, and lion statues took place at at Kim Ngan Communal House at Kim Ngan Temple at No.42-44 Hang Bac street, Hoan Kiem district. Chung cake making and offerings of traditional Tet food to worship ancestors by Hanoi’s families were performed at the Heritage House at No.87 Ma May street.
In the central province of Thua Thien Hue, diverse cultural activities related to Tet are taking place at the Hue Imperial Citadel January 17th to 31st.
According to the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, the Cay Neu (bamboo pole) erecting ceremony was held at Trieu Mieu, The Mieu and Long An palace on January 17th to announce the arrival of Tet.
A banh chung and banh tet making competition was organized on January 18th.
Free entry to monuments of Hue Monuments Conservation Centre will be provided from January 25th to 27th. Visitors will have a chance to watch the Changing of Guards at Ngo Mon gate, dragon dance, performances of Hue royal court music, royal games and calligraphy at Thai Hoa palace’s courtyard.
On January 31st, the bamboo pole will be taken down, ending the holiday. The Mieu and Long An palace will host the Khai An (Opening Seal) ceremony to start a new working year.
In the central city of Hoi An, popular Japanese singer Ueno Yuuka, who was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange, will perform with singer Kawamura Yui and the Kolme band from Japan on Lunar New Year’s eve at the Sculpture Park on January 24th.
A folk art performance (Source: VNA)
A folk performance is staged on the Hoai river bank. The ancient city will host a series of programs in celebration of the Lunar New Year from January 21st to February 9th.
Local craft demonstrations, folk performances, a photo exhibition and a boat race will be organised in the evening on the Hoai river bank from January 24th to 29th.
Craft villages in Hoi An will host festivals to honour their traditional products, including tree planting at Tra Que vegetable village; Kim Bong carpentry village; and a maize festival in Cam Nam village from January 29th to February 9th.
In Ho Chi Minh city, 15-minute firework displays will take place at venues in District 2, Binh Thanh district and District 11. The displays will start as the clock hits midnight on January 1st, marking the beginning of the New Year.
Photo for illustration (Source: TTO)
Artistic lighting will also adorn the streets of Nguyen Van Troi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan - Le Duan roundabout, Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, Cach Mang Thang Tam - Dan Chu roundabout, from December 20th to March 20th.
In addition, the calligraphy market at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House in District 1 has become a must-visit attraction for residents and visitors for taking photos and buying calligraphy works for Tet.
Having opened two weeks before Tet, the market is decorated with mai (ochna) and dao (peach blossom) trees set up along Pham Ngoc Thach and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai streets and inside the Youth Cultural House.
More than 50 'ong do' (calligraphers), including men and women of varying ages, from calligraphy clubs in the city and neighbouring areas have joined the event.
The artists, dressed in ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress), sit on mats arranged in an oval shape symbolising peace, similar to calligraphy markets in the past.
They are selling calligraphy works and lucky money envelopes in black and yellow ink on red paper, priced from VND10,000 to VND200,000 (USD0.4-8.6), depending on the craftsmanship, size and materials. Larger works cost VND500,000 (USD21.5) or more.
People traditionally hang the lucky money envelopes and small calligraphy works mai trees to wish for luck, happiness and prosperity.
The market will remain open until January 23rd (one day before Lunar New Year’s Eve)./.