Lunar new year

Vietnam's government has ordered cities and provinces to cut back on their spending for festivals, which are expected to swamp the first few months of the Lunar New Year. The festivals, when organized, must be economical and in line with traditions, local media quoted Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung as saying. He also said budget spending on these festivals must be reduced as much as possible. Festival organizers are no longer allowed to call for sponsorship on live television without seeking permission in advance. State officials and employees are also banned from taking part in the festivals as well as using state-owned vehicles to attend the events during working hours, he said. Official statistics showed that every year more than 7,300 festivals take place around Vietnam, with most happening during spring after Tet. As Vietnam is an agricultural country, most of the festivals originated in rural villages and are held to pray for good weather and good harvests, and to pay … [Read more...] about Vietnam moves to rein in rowdy, extravagant Lunar New Year celebration

Despite efforts made by local authorities, cheating and price gouging have continued at lunar new year festivals across the country. Flows of people coming to Huong pagoda festival Taking advantage of long holiday, thousands of people have flocked to major festivals. Serious overcrowding and other public safety issues were recorded at festivals at the Huong Pagoda of Hanoi’s My Duc District and Phu Giay in Nam Dinh Province’s Vu Ban District. The Huong Pagoda festival opened on the sixth day of the lunar year. The three month long festival marked the start of series of events which comprise of the national tourism year in Red River Delta – Haiphong region. Nguyen Chi Thanh, head of the Huong Son management board said over 50,000 visitors attended the opening ceremony this year. 250,000 people visited the site during the first few days of the event and a total of 1.5 million visitors is expected this year. Around 4,800 boats were put in use to serve visitors. Many … [Read more...] about Shambolic organisation plagues lunar new year festivals

As an expat living in Vietnam for over five years, Greg Ohan, an Australian senior director at a property consultancy in Ho Chi Minh City, regards the lunar New Year as his chance to take an extra holiday. In his first year in Vietnam, while other expats took a week off and travelled around Asia, Ohan made an effort to stay in the city during Tet and developed a true appreciation for what it was-a chance to spend more time with family, friends, and loved ones. Since then, he has encouraged friends and even family to visit him during Tet so they can experience what he believes to be the true soul and value of Vietnam-its people and how they celebrate their culture. “The annual pilgrimage that my friends and colleagues make to their hometowns is a testament to the strong underlying values of the Vietnamese people, and what I enjoy most about my life in Vietnam,” Ohan said. The picturesque transformation of Nguyen Hue road-and indeed all of Ho Chi Minh City-in the lead up to … [Read more...] about Expats enjoy Lunar New Year festivities

… [Read more...] about Various activities held to welcome Lunar New Year

Hanoi (VNA) – A host of traditional festivals have kicked off in different provinces on February 13 – the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. In the northern province of Ninh Binh, the Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival began in Gia Vien district in the presence of thousands of Buddhist followers and visitors. Ninh Binh is home to a number of relics attached to the development of Buddhism in Vietnam, including Bai Dinh Pagoda, built in the late 10th century, where an array of significant historical events took place, said Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung beat the ceremonial drum and gong to open the festival, which will last through the third lunar month. Bai Dinh Pagoda is part of the Trang An Landscape Complex – a world cultural and natural heritage site recognised by UNESCO. The pagoda itself is a complex of the original and newly built Buddhist temples on Bai Dinh Mountain, nearly … [Read more...] about Traditional festivals mark outset of Lunar New Year