Thousands gathered for the Khai ha (going down to the field) festival, the largest traditional one of the Muong ethnic people, in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province on the 8th day of the Lunar New Year. The festival spotlights the vibrant cultural traditions that have been integral to the ethnics’ new year celebrations. This year, it falls on February 5. The celebration honours deities and ancestors who established the Muong territories while seeking blessings for bumper crops and prosperity in the coming year. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
Khai ha festival attracts a large crowd of local people and visitors. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
A shaman performs rituals on a palanquin before the procession takes place. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
Muong women put on their traditional clothes for the festival. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
A ritual during the festival. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
Muong women put on their traditional clothes for the festival. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
Khai ha festival attracts a large crowd of local people and visitors. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
Local people in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province begin planting crops during the festival. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
Local people in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province begin planting crops during the festival. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
A procession during the festival. VNA Photo: Trọng Đạt
Students at the Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted had a meeting “Under the glorious flag of the Party” on February 3 to mark the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3). VNA Photo: Thanh Tùng
As of February 3, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake, all agencies and businesses across the country returned to work after the Tet holiday. VNA Photo
Locals in the northern province of Ha Nam joined the festival atmosphere nationwide by celebrating the Buffalo decorating contest within the annual Tich Dien (ploughing) festival on the fields of Doi Tin village, Tien Son commune of Duy Tien town, the northern province of Ha Nam on February 3 (the sixth day of the first lunar month). The contest attracted 20 artists from the region. VNA Photo: Trần Việt
Tet (Lunar New Year) is the most important traditional celebration in Vietnamese culture, a time for families to gather, reflect on the past year, and wish for the best in the new year. VNA Photo: Khánh Hòa
Hundreds of purple ‘mua’ (melastoma) flowers are entering the blooming season at B’Lao tea plantation in Loc Quang commune, Bao Lam district, Lam Dong province, with its striking deep purple bordering on the lush green oolong tea fields. These trees are planted along the edges of the tea plantation, spanning dozens of hectares. From the centre of Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province, it takes about 20 minutes of travel towards DamBri Waterfall to reach the tea plantation and admire the purple flowers alongside the green tea hills. VNA Photo: Nguyễn Dũng
Traditionally, during the first three days of the Tet (Lunar New Year)festival, Vietnamese families go to pagodas and temples to pray for health, happiness and good fortune in the year ahead. Offerings, including flowers, incense and fruit, are given to wish for a successful year for friends and relatives. Visiting pagodas during Tet festival has become an age-old cultural tradition, and an indispensable part in Vietnamese people’s spiritual life. VNA Photo
The first days of the new Lunar year are sacred to the Vietnamese people, the time for everyone to make wishes. During this time, a number of traditional meaningful customs are practised and calligraphy hanging is one of the most beautiful ones. The custom does not only reflect Vietnamese people’s respect for knowledge but helps preserve a time-honoured activity as well. The meaningful characters written on special papers have become the symbol of good luck, worshipping objects for thousands of years in Vietnam. VNA Photo
Peach blossoms are an enduring symbol of Tet (Lunar New Year) festival in the northern region of Vietnam. Traditionally, the Tet holidays are days of relaxation, family reunion, happiness and joy. Just as many people in the West buy pine trees for the Christmas holiday, Vietnamese often buy many types of flowers and plants to decorate their house in the special period. Peach blossoms and kumquat trees are common in the north while southern people prefer apricot blossoms for Tet. VNA Photo
Visiting Tranh Khuc village in the outskirts of Ha Noi these days, it is easy to see the image of families busy packing Chung cakes to serve customers. On average, each household makes 200 - 300 cakes in a normal day. But one week before Tet, their productivity may increase by 10 times. They have trade secret to bring out the typical taste of the Chung cake with sticky rice, buttery green bean, pepper fragrance, and fatty pork. In order to have good cakes, they have to carefully choose rice, bean, pork, and leaves. VNA Photo
The Bonsai kumquat trees of Van Giang district in northern Hung Yen province with their unique shapes and sizes are picking up in popularity among shoppers for Tet decorations. VNA Photo
