Lunar New Year is a special festival of all Vietnamese nationalities. But each ethnic minority people enjoy their festival in their own way.

Art performance by ethnic minority people during Tet holiday.

Tet of the Tay and Nung ethnicity

The Tay and Nung ethnic groups have several festivals a year. In January, they have the lunar new year and the farming work festival.

In February, they have the mountain festival, and March has communal singing festival. But the lunar new year is the biggest festival of the year, when the people celebrate it for 3 days.

In the new year’s eve, the Tay and Nung people prepare a tray of cooking for offerings, to be presented to their ancestors and to welcome the new year.

In the new year day, people visit each other to wish a good new year, starting with their parents and their in laws. In the 3rd day, the Long Tong festival or going to the field festival is held, until the 15th day.

Tet of the Thai people

Every year, in the third lunar month, when the peach flowers blossom, the Thai people organise the Xen Ban, Xen Muong festivals to worship for a new year of favourable weather and crops.

The ritual is led by the chief of the village, worshipping Nang Hang – the god of will and strength of all the spirits. After the festival, people start their farming activity, beginning a new year.

Chol Chnam Thmay Festival of the Khmer people

The Khmer people in southern Vietnam welcome the New Year in April. This is when the weather is dry, and all farming work is done. The people make the tet cake (conical shaped made from spring rice and pork) to offer to Buddha.

They burn incense to bid farewell to the old god and welcome the god of the new year. The welcoming ceremony lasts for 3 day, and is held in the pagoda first, then at home. They also organise the ritual to give shower to the Buddha statue at the pagoda and at their home.

The Dao people’s Tet festival

The Dao people live in the North and Northwest of Vietnam. They have many festivals and rituals, such as the Ban Vuong worshipping ritual, naming rituals, etc.

The Tet Nhay festival aims to welcome a new year of prosperity, and is often held before the Lunar New Year.

The festival is held among clans, at one of the families in each clan, lasting 3 days. Apart from offerings, such as pork, wine and others, people practice dancing so as to be able to dance at the festival.

Going to farm festival of the Giay people

The Giay people in Ta Van often organise the Farm Going Festival at the beginning of the Lunar New Year, after the first mid lunar month.

The people prepare offerings, including pork, chickens, flowers, cakes, etc., to present them to the God.

The ritual starts at 7 a.m, and after the offerings, the people go to a large playing field to play traditional games.

(Source: Timeout)