HCM City (VNA) – The Tet Viet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) Festival opened in Ho Chi Minh City on January 13, packed with various celebration activities, all infused with the distinct cultural identity of the nation, aiming to spread the values and spirit of traditional culture.
A highlight of this year’s festival is the “Spring House,” a replica of a traditional wooden stilt house from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, complete with a 20-metre-long kitchen and a garden full of spring flowers, bringing a peaceful Tet atmosphere. The house, 14 metres wide and about 12 metres long, is located at the centre of the festival ground, serving as a stage for ongoing performances.
In addition to familiar images of the traditional Tet such as the calligraphy street and the apricot blossom garden, the festival features several new design elements in its layout and spaces.
Notably, Pham Ngoc Thach Street is adorned with yellow apricot blossoms combined with 5,000 red-painted bamboo trees. This display not only showcases the traditional colours of Tet but also symbolises the resilience and perseverance of the Vietnamese people, reinforcing the nation's advancement in the new era.
The festival also includes spaces showcasing traditional craft villages as well as three unique art forms representing the three regions of Vietnam - Ca Tru (ceremonial singing), Hue Royal Court Music, and Don Ca Tai Tu (southern amateur music), as well as an additional stage for young acoustic bands, bringing a youthful and vibrant energy to the festival.
Nguyen Hong Phuc, Director of the HCM City Youth Cultural House, said that with 18 editions so far, the event has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to enjoy, take photos, and participate in cultural and traditional artistic activities during the Tet holiday.
This year, the festival offers a chance to promote the image, people, and beauty of the modern city while creating motivation for its next chapter, said Phuc, suggesting festival-goers wear “Ao dai” (traditional long dress).
The festival will be open at the city Youth Cultural House until February 2, or the fifth day of the Year of the Snake.
According to the organisers, the 2024 edition attracted nearly 200,000 visitors./.
