Cultural activities over Tet – Where to go and what to do?

Cultural activities over Tet – Where to go and what to do? Related image(s)

Many cultural activities will take place nationwide, especially in major cities, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2015, promising to attract a large number of local people and tourists. In Ho Chi Minh city, “Ong do” ‘Calligrapher’ street has been underway since February 8th at the Ho Chi Minh city Labour Cultural Palace and Youth Cultural House, 116 Nguyen Du, district 1. Buying and hanging folk paintings and calligraphy works have long been an indispensable Vietnamese tradition during Tet and it is believed to bring the buyers good luck and prosperity. Calligraphy works are those featuring stylized words in Vietnamese, Chinese and even English or any other language that one’s heart desires. The words, which hold mostly philosophical and literary meanings, are written with a special brush and ink. Those trained to write the words are called “ong do” (calligrapher,) and are usually elder males who wear the traditional “ao dai” with headdress. The event is scheduled to end on February 17th. Flower street in Ho Chi Minh city. Tet ‘Flower street’ and ‘Book Ssreet’ will take place on two parts of Nghi Tam street in District 1 from February 16th to 22nd. Accordingly, traffic on Ham Nghi running from the Quach Thi Trang roundabout to Ton Duc Thang street will be diverted from 7:00 am on February 6th to 6:00 am on February 23rd. Visitors to the flower display will for the first time be able to use free Wi-Fi. The fireworks display is planned for eight venues across the city, including Thu Thiem Trench in district 1, Bitexco building in district 1, Dam Sen park in district 11, District 12 Cultural Center, Ethnic Cultural and Historical Park in district 9, Giong Turning Point Relics in Hoc Mon district, Lang Le – Bau Co Area in Binh Chanh district, and Can Gio district. In Hanoi, “ong do” generally sit on the pavement in some streets in Hanoi, but this year around 200 will gather in 100 tents erected inside the Temple of Literature. This activity is taking from February 8th to March 5th. Hanoi will let off fireworks in 31 places on New Year’s Eve (February 18th, 2015), including five high-range displays, 25 low-range displays and an art firework performance in the middle-bank of the Red river. High-range fireworks displays will be set off from Hoan Kiem Lake in the city centre with other displays placed from Thong Nhat Park (Hai Ba Trung district), Lac Long Quan flower garden (Tay Ho district), Van Quan Lake (Ha Dong district), and My Dinh National Stadium (Nam Tu Liem district). The low-range fireworks will be held in 25 districts in the city. The Hanoi city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed the city People’s Committee shoot fireworks from the newly constructed Nhat Tan bridge. However, a final decision has yet to be made. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology will organize a special programme entitled “Enjoying the year of the goat 2015″ on February 22nd to 23rd. The programme will introduce the folk culture in the daily life of ethnic minority groups in the northwestern mountainous province of Lao Cai such as Mong, Dao, Nung, Bo Y through performances and folk games. People from the northern port city of Hai Phong will perform folk games associated with their life. Lovers of Dong Ho painting will have an opportunity to have an exchange with artisans from the northern province of Bac Ninh and to learn how to make a painting. A special art performance will take place on February 18th in Ly Thai To flower garden and in front of Me Linh Plaza Commercial Center in Ha Dong district. According to To Van Dong, Director of Hanoi city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the city will organize a film week at cinemas and theatres; art performances to celebrate the new year at the August Revolution Square and performances to welcome the new year at centers of 30 districts and town. On this occasion, the Vietnam Writers’ Association will organize an international conference to popularize Vietnamese culture, the Pacific – Asia poetry festival and the Vietnam poem day with the participation of more than 150 representatives from 40 countries and territories. According to the Center for the Preservation of Hue Ancient Capital Relics, on February 11th, a lunar new year pole named “cay neu” will be erected at The Mieu and Long An Palace. At Hue Royal Palace, before and on the occasion of the lunar New Year, the court will erect the lunar New Year pole to give a signal that the New Year is coming, praise for peace and convenience. Royal and traditional games and dragon and lion performances will be held on February 19th and 20th. In the ancient town of Hoi An, the new year poles will be also erected at relics, temples, houses of worship, and offices. Cultural activities and folk games will take place on February 19th and 20th at Hoai River Square./.