The 5th "Vietnamese Street Tet" program is held in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. (photo: VOV)
100 young people joined a procession from the Heritage House at 87 Ma May street to Kim Ngan temple in Hang Bac street, where they presented offerings at the communal house, reported to the village’s tutelary god, and erected a bamboo Neu tree.
Nguyen Duc Binh, head of the Viet Communal House Club, said: “This year we invited young people and they responded enthusiastically. They all wore traditional dress ao dai. There are delegations from the Department of Culture in Thua Thien-Hue, a Then singing troupe from Thai Nguyen, a Xoan singing troupe from Phu Tho, and artists from the southwestern region.”

A participant shared his feeling: "I’m very excited to be part of this program. I enjoy the atmosphere of contemporary Tet and traditional performances like lion dancing and erecting a Neu tree. The Phu Tho Xoan singing troupe and the Tay costumes from the northwestern mountains are fascinating.”

"I attended the ritual of erecting a Neu tree and learned something about that custom and other interesting activities like calligraphy. We should study Vietnamese history and culture as core values,” said a participant.

Traditional Tet customs are re-enacted at Kim Ngan temple in Hang Bac street. (photo: VOV)

Re-enactments of traditional Tet rituals has promoted Vietnamese culture to tourists and taught young people to value their traditions. Tran Thi Thuy Lan, Deputy Manager of Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi’s Old Quarter, said: “This is the 5th year we have coordinated with the Viet Communal House Club to hold a “Vietnamese Street Tet” program to promote intangible cultural heritages to the public, and inspire young people to get involved in cultural preservation.”

From now until February 28, program will be introducing Tet customs of the northern delta, presenting music performances, making banh chung (square sticky rice cakes), and displaying craft products.