Traditional rituals to see off the old year and ring in the new year were performed at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO world heritage site, on January 26.
Decorating the Tet bamboo pole (Photo: Hoang Thanh Thang Long).
The activity kicked off a series of events to be held within the premises of the heritage site in order to welcome the year of the pig.
The event was attended by leaders of the Vietnamese Fatherland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hanoi government, overseas Vietnamese and residents of the capital city.
The reproduced rituals included an offering to the Kitchen Gods, the release of carp into an ancient river at the archaeological site of 18 Hoang Dieu and the erection of a bamboo pole in front of the Doan Mon Gate.
A Tet bamboo pole is be put up at the imperial citdatel (Photo: Hoang Thanh Thang Long)
A delegation of overseas Vietnamese who will attend the Homeland Spring programme later in the day also offered incense at the imperial citadel.
To welcome the new year, an exhibition was held at 19C Hoang Dieu featuring cultural traditions that remind people of Tet in bygone days, while kids could experience folk games and enjoy exciting water puppetry performances.
According to the organisers, the re-enactment of the traditional rituals will help safeguard the traditional culture within the heritage site.
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long will close during February 3-5 and reopen on February 6, or the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Source: NDO
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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