Vietnam's Tet parade brings colour to capital city


Hundreds of people in traditional aodai take part in the parade around Hanoi's Old Quarter on the opening day of the Tet programme on Sunday (Jan 19, 2025). - Photo: VNA/VNS

HANOI: Many local and international visitors took part in a parade around Hanoi's Old Quarter in traditional Vietnamese clothes on the opening day of the 2025 Tet Viet Tet Pho (Hanoi Streets during Vietnamese Tet Holiday) on Sunday (Jan 19).

The event was one of many activities to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) organised by the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi's Old Quarter as well as the Dinh Lang Viet Club.

The procession parades around ancient streets and historical heritage sites.

The parade is part of an annual programme reenacting the beauty of traditional Tet celebrations and national art to preserve and promote traditional cultural values.

At the same time, it helps promote tourism and the image of the capital city's Old Quarter -- as well as the rest of Hanoi -- to a large number of tourists.

People take part in a ceremony to set up the Tet pole.

The opening ceremony took place at the Kim Ngan Communal House on Hang Bac Street, highlighting traditional rituals such as a procession to present offerings at the communal house gate, a ceremony to honour the Patron Saint and Craft Ancestors, and a ceremony to set up the Tet pole.

The procession draws people in with colourful aodai at the ritual ceremony.

The procession of around 400 people paraded through ancient streets and landmarks in traditional aodai, carrying typical Tet offerings such as jam, lotus tea, banh chung (glutinous rice cakes), banh com (green sticky rice cakes) and peach blossoms.

Led by the cheerful kylin dance, the parade started from the Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street and wended its way through historic locations like the O Quan Chuong (the last existing gate of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel), Bach Ma Temple, Kinh Le Thai To and Ly Thai To statues next to Hoan Kiem Lake and the Heritage House at 87 Ma May Street, ending at the Kim Ngan Communal House.

Many foreigners are invited to take part in the event.

Spectators were impressed with the bright colours of the traditional costumes worn by young people from the Bach Hoa Bo Hanh Club.

"This is the first time I've participated in the Tet procession, and I am happy and proud to have the chance to wear and introduce people to the ancient outfit of the Nguyen dynasty while marching with many others through the historical heritage sites of Hanoi's Old Quarter," said Nguyen Do Linh Ngoc.

Along with the parade, visitors also saw traditional decorations, art performances, calligraphy writing, painting and drawing on opening day, with many other important rituals and cultural activities scheduled through January 25.

A street painter outlines his painting while watching the parade.

For other activities, the organisers will display and introduce works of art with the theme Spring Colour of 2025 and a collection of zodiac animals of the lunar year at the Hoan Kiem Lake Cultural Information Centre at 2 Le Thai To Street.

A banh chung wrapping event will be held at the Centre for Culture and Arts at 22 Hang Buom on Jan 25.

Many traditional music and dance performances will be held during the Tet festival.

A number of other activities, such as decorating and arranging traditional Tet spaces and experiencing the Tet of an ancient Hanoi family, using traditional Tet decorations from the Red River Delta, a demonstration of Vietnamese calligraphy and traditional music and dances are slated in the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake areas during the holiday time. - Vietnam News/ANN

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Vietnam , Tet , parade , brings colour , capital city , Hanoi

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