Traditional Tet rituals to be re-enacted at Thang Long imperial citadel

The highlight will be a re-enactment of the old Tet rituals performed in the 1970s and 1980s, a period linked to the planning and subsidy mechanism in Vietnam.

The rituals will initially begin with a farewell ceremony dedicated to the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods who are thought to go to Heaven in order to deliver an annual report on each household’s activities in the past year. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 22, or the 23rd day of the last lunar month.

Participants will then join in a ceremony to put up a Neu pole, a tall bamboo tree with red garment strips, which is used to ward off evil spirits during Tet.

Furthermore, the historical site will arrange special spaces specifically for festive celebrations, including a space set up for Tet cuisine and regional specialties, as well as a space for displaying the holiday traditions of locals from across the country in the old times.

Guests will also have the opportunity to experience the festive atmosphere of Tet from ancient times by joining in diverse cultural activities such as calligraphy giving, toy making, and cake making, among others.

In particular, the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre will host water puppetry shows between January 30 to February 2, to promote the country’s cultural value to both locals and international friends.