Diverse cultural activities held to celebrate Tet festival

A vast array of cultural activities will be underway around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter to celebrate the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday until the end of February.

The setup of Cay Neu (the new year tree) in 2020 during the serial events that celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. Photo: The Viet Villages and Temple Club

Cultural activities will recreate some Tet traditions.

Specifically, on the evening of January 8, a procession will be staged to honor and venerate village gods and craft village founders, as well as install the Cay Neu (New Year tree). The New Year's tree is meant to ward off demons and promote a prosperous life for the people.

The procession will start from the old house on Ma May Street, go through several streets of the Old Quarter and end at Kim Ngan Temple on Hang Bac Street for the worship ceremony.

The procession will start from the ancient house on Ma May Street, go through several streets of the Old Quarter and end at Kim Ngan Temple on Hang Bac Street for the worship ceremony.

Also, in the Kim Ngan temple, there will be an exhibition in which 12 zodiac animals of Tet will be presented. Iconic animals are shown in traditional paintings from the popular villages of Hang Trong, Kim Hoang, and Dong Ho. The exhibition will last from January to February 28.

During this time, at the ancient house on Ma May Street, visitors and locals will enjoy traditional Tet activities such as making banh chung (square sticky rice cake), worshipping the kitchen gods, and preparing New Year's Eve dishes.

On January 7, there will be a traditional musical event featuring "Don Ca Tai Tu" - the traditional music of the South - and the musical heritage of the North.

At the wall painting street of Phung Hung, tourists and residents will have an opportunity to meet and socialize with craftsmen of traditional paintings, pottery, bamboo, and rattan.

There will be performances by artists from Bac Lieu, Phu Tho, Haiphong, and Hanoi.

According to local authorities, the series of events aims to promote traditional cultural values among Vietnamese people and the younger generation. They will also raise awareness of healthy and thrifty traditions.

The upcoming events are also a good opportunity to promote the historical and cultural values of Hanoi and Hoan Kiem District among domestic and international visitors.

In the post-pandemic time, the events will become a bridge connecting Vietnamese at home and abroad to join hands and preserve Vietnamese traditions.