Lookatvietnam – The festive atmosphere associated with Tet (Lunar New Year) has arrived sooner than usual this year.

Fighting lions: Members of the Thanh Nghia Duong Lan Su Rong team perform a lion dance to welcome the new year.

The festival presents an opportunity for the younger generation to learn Vietnamese cultural values formed thousands of years ago.

The festival, hosted for the second time by the Youth Cultural House, is expected to bring both tourists and local citizens a taste of spring.

One of the festival’s most exciting activities is the dancing by more than 15 of the strongest Lan Su Rong (kylin-lion-dragon) teams in the city.

Besides the major festival, a series of mini-festivals which showcase different aspects of Vietnamese culture are being held.

For instance, Banh Tet – Li Xi (Cylindrical Glutinous Cakes – Lucky Money) will offer money and cakes to disadvantaged children.

And the Quang Trung festival commemorates the springtime victory of the emperor 220 years ago.

Another festival features Tieng Tre Xanh (the sound of green bamboo), a cai luong (reformed opera) performance. It also contains a tea show by the Tra Viet Club, kungfu, human chess and traditional dancing.

Calligraphy

One of the most attractive aspects of the festival for visitors is the display of red parallel sentences written in Chinese and Vietnamese calligraphy.

The calligraphy is drawn by more than 30 calligraphers in front of the Youth Cultural House.

The image of many ong do (old time teachers) in traditional ao dai (long dress) with red paper and Chinese ink writing Vietnamese or Chinese calligraphy serves as a reminder of the Vietnamese people’s traditional lifestyle.

In parallel

The old time teachers also practice their craft in front of Tao Dan Park, as well as Truong Dinh and Dien Bien Phu streets. People can buy the calligraphic work and display it at their homes.

The Vietnamese tradition is to hang, carve or paint parallel calligraphic sentences on pillars, walls or altars. This is a mark of ancestral worship and is thought to bring happiness and good luck to one’s house and family.

(Source: Viet Nam News)