A reenactment of traditional Tet rituals, including an offering ceremony and a flower procession, is part of activities welcoming the Year of the Horse 2026. - VNA/VNS
HANOI: A packed programme of vibrant cultural activities will run from this month until March in the heart of the capital, especially across heritage spaces, as Hanoi ushers in spring and celebrates traditional Tet (Lunar New Year), the Year of the Horse, which falls on Feb 17 this year.
The Hanoi Old Quarter Heritage Information Centre at 28 Hang Buom Street will host a traditional Tet space featuring a series of cultural experiences taking place from Jan 19 to March 17 across the Old Quarter.
An exhibition themed Sac Xuan Binh Ngo (Spring Colours of the Year of the Horse), organised by the Ho Guom Cultural Information Centre, will take place at 2 Le Thai To Street from Jan 22 to March 1.
From Jan 23 to March 1, the Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Centre will organise a Tet space and an art exhibition titled Chao Xuan Binh Ngo 2026 (Greetings to Spring and the Year of the Horse 2026).
Many other activities will be staged around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter as part of a programme themed Tet Viet - Tet Pho (Vietnamese Tet - Street Tet). These include the practice of traditional Tet customs, exhibitions and the recreations of spring markets, ancient houses, village communal houses and processions.
The programme, organised by the Hoàn Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board in coordination with various organisations and individuals under the guidance of the Hoan Kiem Ward authority, aims to preserve and promote the cultural values of traditional northern-region Tet.
As part of the programme, on Jan 24 the Dong Kinh Co Nhac (Dong Kinh Ancient Music) group will offer a traditional music performance, showcasing the essence of heritage music within an Old Quarter setting at the centre on Dao Duy Tu Street.
Notably, a reenactment of traditional Tet rituals, including an offering ceremony and a flower procession, will be held by the Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarter Management Board to announce and welcome the Year of the Horse 2026.
The procession will start from O Quan Chuong, one of Hanoi’s ancient city gates, and move through Hang Chieu, Hang Duong, Hang Ngang and Hang Dao streets, Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, the Hoan Kiem Lake walking area and the streets of Le Thai To, Hang Khay, Dinh Tien Hoang, Dinh Liet and Hang Bac, before ending at Kim Ngan Temple at 42 Hang Bac Street.
A cultural activity featuring the making of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cake) will take place on Feb 12 at the Cultural and Arts Centre at 22 Hang Buom Street.
On the same day, the public can join a folk games programme and try on traditional costumes to tour the Old Quarter and a flower market along the route from 22 Hang Buom Street to Hang Luoc Street.
Through these activities, the organiser seeks to affirm its role as a core unit in the city’s conservation and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, while also educating younger generations about the value of tradition.
The programme aims to link conservation with tourism, trade and creative economic development, contributing to the image of Hanoi as a creative city where tradition and modernity blend harmoniously. - Vietnam News/ANN
