Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) With the Lunar New Year holiday underway, travel is booming starting from the third day of the Lunar New Year. Traditional festivals in northern Vietnam have become a popular choice for tourists to experience the festive atmosphere and explore the culture. In early spring, ten distinctive Lunar New Year activities will take place, carrying national cultural memories and allowing tourists to immerse themselves in the traditional Vietnamese New Year experience. Specific highlights are as follows:
1. Dong Da Hill Temple Fair (Fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Hanoi)
As Hanoi's most distinctive traditional temple fair, the Dong Da Hill Temple Fair is held to commemorate the national hero Quang Trung, who resisted foreign invaders. It officially opens on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year each year. Visiting the Dong Da Hill Temple Fair has become a Lunar New Year tradition for the Vietnamese people, with a lively atmosphere that reflects reverence for the hero and anticipation for the New Year. 2. Ban Son Ha Rice Festival (Lunar New Year's Day 5-7, Tien Son Commune, Ha Nam Province)
This traditional festival centers on "opening the fields for blessings," with rituals praying for favorable weather and abundant harvests in the new year. It fully preserves the ancient customs of Vietnamese agricultural culture, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the New Year's prayer rituals of a traditional agricultural society.
3. Phu Dong Thien Vuong Temple Fair (Lunar New Year's Day 6-8, Phu Dong Commune, Hanoi)
The Phu Dong Thien Vuong Temple Fair, listed as a UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, features three days of activities including consecration ceremonies, welcoming ceremonies, incense offerings, and the presentation of bamboo flowers. It is a key attraction for experiencing Vietnamese intangible cultural heritage.
4. Huong Phuong Temple Fair (Lunar New Year's Day 6 - March, Huong Son Commune, Hanoi)
As one of the most famous temple fairs in northern Vietnam, the Huong Phuong Temple Fair offers the dual value of "pilgrimage for blessings" and "spring tourism." Visitors can visit temples for worship or enjoy boating on the scenic mountains and rivers, taking in the natural beauty of early spring.
5. Vieng Market (Afternoon of the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Vu Bun Commune, Nam Dinh Province)
This is the only nighttime Lunar New Year market in northern Vietnam, and an annual "Blessing Market." Every year on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, tourists from all over gather here to pray for good fortune in the lively market atmosphere, making it a unique cultural event.
6. Phủ Dày Temple Fair (Eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Nam Dinh Province)
The Phủ Dày Temple Fair, dedicated to the Holy Mother of Liu Heng, one of Vietnam's "Four Immortals," is a highly representative local goddess worship activity. The traditional rituals during the fair convey the people's yearning for a better life and showcase Vietnam's unique goddess worship culture. 7. Tran Mieu Temple Seal Opening Festival (January 11-16, Nam Dinh Province)
As one of the largest temple fairs in the north during the Lunar New Year, the Seal Opening Festival centers on "humanistic blessings." Besides the core "seal-issuing ceremony" from the night of the 14th to the early morning of the 15th, it also includes a variety of activities such as dragon and lion dances, comedy performances, singing contests, chess, and wrestling competitions. Through rituals to worship heaven, earth, and ancestors, it expresses respect and gratitude to the forefathers.
8. San Yuan Mountain Holy Temple Fair (January 10th, main day, specific location not mentioned)
Originating from the multi-ethnic tradition of joint worship, the San Yuan Mountain Holy Temple Fair aims to protect and promote the spiritual and cultural values of the Vietnamese nation. This year, the main day (January 10th) will feature a national intangible cultural heritage certificate awarding ceremony and an opening ceremony, becoming a major highlight of the fair.
9. An Tu Temple Fair (January 10th - March, An Tu, Quang Ninh Province)
The nearly two-month-long An Tu Temple Fair centers on the worship of the copper pagoda on the mountaintop. This year's opening ceremony was held for the first time at the Bamboo Forest Cultural Center. The fair also includes sub-events such as the An Tu Cherry Blossom and Plum Blossom Festival and the Bao Quang Pagoda Lunar New Year Fair, creating a harmonious blend of natural scenery and cultural blessings.
10. Lim Temple Fair (January 13th, Tien Du Commune, Bac Ninh Province)
The grand Lunar New Year temple fair in Bac Ninh Province is characterized by "folk sports." During the fair, various traditional competitions will be held, including martial arts, wrestling, chess, swinging, weaving, and cooking, full of local vitality and folk fun, allowing visitors to deeply experience the atmosphere of Vietnamese folk life.
11. Ba Chu Ku Temple Fair (January 14th, Cu Mi Village, Vu Ninh Ward, Bac Ninh City)
The Ba Chu Ku Temple Fair, with "praying for wealth" as its core, attracts a large number of people to worship every year on the 14th day of the first lunar month. The simple yet solemn ceremonies carry people's beautiful hopes for a prosperous and healthy new year. The Lunar New Year temple fairs and festivals in northern Vietnam are not only vibrant carriers of national cultural traditions but also excellent opportunities for locals and tourists to experience cultural characteristics and enhance their cultural pride. When traveling during the Lunar New Year, consider visiting these traditional activities and understanding Vietnam's rich cultural heritage amidst the festive atmosphere. (End)
