Traditional Tết rituals take place in Hà Nội Old Quarter

HÀ NỘI The opening ceremony of the programme Tết Việt-Tết phố 2024 (Vietnamese Tết – Old Quarter Tết 2024) celebrating Tết (Lunar New Year) 2024 has taken place at Kim Ngân communal house, Hoàn Kiếm District. 

A procession wearing áo dài (Vietnamese traditional dress) passes through a street in Hà Nội Old Quarter. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

The Management Board of Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Hà Nội Old Quarter organises the programme, aiming to introduce to Hà Nội’s citizens and visitors the traditional Tết space, rituals and activities of Hà Nội and the Northern Delta.

Traditional rituals such as the procession to present offerings at the communal house gate, the Ceremony to declare the Thành Hoàng and worship the Craft Ancestors, and the Ceremony of erecting the Nêu tree were adapted in the programme.

The procession to present offerings at the communal house started from the Heritage House at 87 Mã Mây Street, passed through Hà Nội Old Quarter Street to the Kim Ngân communal house.

More than 300 people joined the procession, including up to 200 worshipers, most of whom were of the young generation. 

Those participating in the procession all wear áo ngũ thân (traditional five-panel dress). The people performing the ceremony wore áo tấc (wide-sleeved shirt), while the rest wore áo tay chẽn (short-sleeved dress).

The offerings are traditional Hà Nội craft products such as green rice cake and sweet lotus dessert. 

The programme also features traditional folk activities such as building bamboo trees, wrapping cakes, and exchanging and introducing craft village products.

“This year’s procession has had a significant change, with more people wearing the ngũ thân instead of wearing hybrid costumes,” said Nguyễn Đức Bình, Chairman of the Vietnamese Village Communal Club. 

“This year, the procession is completely inclusive of the Hà Nội community.”

“Preserving and promoting tangible and intangible cultural heritage values in the Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Hà Nội Old Quarter area is a key task for the People’s Committee of Hoàn Kiếm District to carry out,” said Trần Thúy Lan, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Hà Nội Old Quarter.

Activities under the Vietnamese Tết – Old Quarter’s Tết 2024 programme will continue until the end of Tết holiday for Hà Nội’s citizens and visitors. VNS.