A special program to celebrate Tet, the Lunar New Year, was held on January 19 by the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ha Noi Old Quarter. Activities showcased northern Vietnam's Tet traditions.
Red River Delta’s Tet tradition is revived ahead of Lunar New Year
The opening ceremony featured a grand procession from the Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street to Kim Ngan Communal House. 400 people dressed in traditional costumes proceeded along streets to the communal house, where a ceremony was held to offer sugar coated fruits, lotus tea, Chung (square sticky rice) cake, Com (young green sticky rice) cake, and peach blossoms to the deities.
The participants shared their joy at the festival:
"I woke up at 5 a.m. to prepare. This is my first time participating, and I feel proud and happy to help recreate Tet street scenes from the past."
"Seeing young people in traditional costumes during the busy year-end days is inspiring. Events like this promote our cultural identity."
"Everyone around me was also wearing traditional costumes, which made me feel a strong sense of patriotism. This is an opportunity to promote Vietnamese culture to international friends. Many foreigners along the parade route took pictures with us."
At the opening ceremony, people performed the “Reporting to the village genie” ritual, worshiped craft founders, erected a Tet bamboo pole, gave calligraphy demonstrations, and performed folk music.
Nguyen Duc Binh, a member of the organizing committee, said: "The highlight of the ceremony is the recreation of the community procession to honor the village genie. Young people today are enthusiastic about traditional culture. For instance, many of them stayed up all night preparing costumes and makeup for the parade. Their energy makes these events really special."
Running until February 28, the program offers a variety of cultural activities, including decorating traditional Tet spaces to reflect the calligraphy, folk music, and traditional arts of the Red River Delta and old Ha Noi families.
