The Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee launched the 2009 Hanoi Spring Festival in the area around Hoan Kiem (restored sword) Lake in downtown Hanoi on January 29, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, attracting the participation of nearly 5,000 people, including artists, actors and artisans from within the city.

The grand festival began with a ceremonial offering of incense at the statue of King Ly Thai To, who founded the imperial city of Thang Long.

Next came processions conducted by people from various parts of Hanoi, including Tan Vien festival (Son Tay), Hai Ba Trung (the two Trung sisters) festival (Me Linh), and Da Si traditional village (Ha Dong). Each procession comprised gong performances and festive folk dances.

The grand 2009 Hanoi Spring Festival continues through January 30 and 31 (or the fifth and sixth days of the Lunar New Year of the Buffalo), with a traditional wrestling competitor in Son Tay, a celebration of the 220^th anniversary of the grand victory over China’s Qing aggressors in Ngoc Hoi and Dong Da, the 1969^th anniversary of the Hai Ba Trung uprising against Chinese invaders in Me Linh, the Co Loa ancient citadel festival in Dong Anh district, and the Soc Temple festival in Soc Son district.

The Thang Long Royal Citadel Spring Festival 2009 also officially began in Hanoi on January 29 with a performance of Bai Bong, an ancient royal dance, followed by rituals performed by delegations from the city’s various districts.

During the 12-day festival, visitors may enjoy a host of outdoor activities highlighting the nation’s culture, including rituals, exhibitions of handicraft products such as pottery, drawings and carvings as well as martial arts performances.

An exhibition of the culture of Doai county at the festival features more than 200 antiques representing different periods from ancient times through the Dong Son period.

Visitors will also have a chance to contemplate the eighth-century Thanh Mai bell weighing 36 kg with a 28cm diameter. The bell has about 1,500 words carved on it, along with images of popular pagodas and temples, and of village gates that are characteristic of northern Vietnam.

The event is considered a rehearsal for the Thang Long-Hanoi millennial anniversary celebrations in 2010.

Ninh Thuan: The authorities in the southcentral province have organized a wide range of art and entertainment activities for people.

Mobile performance troupes were sent to remote and mountainous areas to serve residents there. A Raglai ethnic sports contest took place in the districts of Thuan Bac and Ninh Phuoc during Tet. In other parts of the province, traditional sports events attracted the participation of a wide variety of local people.

Kon Tum: The Culture, Sports and Tourism Department of the Central Highland province held a dug-out canoe race on the Dak Bla River with the participation of 47 canoes and 94 rowers.

Dong Nai: Another boat race was held by the southern province, attracting the participation of eight local teams, all cheered on by thousands of people.