Author: Admin

Imagine a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, the sweet aroma of exotic spices, and the joyous symphony of laughter echoing through bustling streets… Welcome to Tet Nguyen Dan, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, a feast for the senses and a celebration that weaves history, mythology, and family into a vibrant tapestry.

Deeply rooted in ancient agrarian practices, Tet has evolved into a celebration of life’s renewal. For a week, Vietnam transforms into a stage where traditions dance, each act imbued with meaning.
Tet is more than just a spectacle; it’s a portal to understanding the Vietnamese soul. It’s a time for reflection, forgiveness, and embracing new beginnings. It’s a reminder that amidst the hustle of life, family, tradition, and a dash of playful superstition hold the key to true happiness.

Echoes of Ancestral Whispers

The first act opens with a poignant tribute to ancestors. The Vietnamese believe that their ancestors are still watching over them and guiding them. Têt Nguyen Dan thus provides Vietnamese people an important opportunity to connect with their ancestors and express their thanks. Families gather, their faces illuminated by flickering candles, as they offer prayers and delicacies, seeking blessings for the year ahead. The air hums with a sense of reverence, a reminder that the past lives on within us.
A Spring Cleaning of the Soul
Before the festivities begin, a meticulous cleansing takes place. Homes are scrubbed, not just of dust, but of negativity, making way for fresh beginnings. They then decorated their homes with flowers, lanterns, and banners. New clothes are donned, symbolizing a shedding of the old and an embrace of the new.

A Feast for the Senses

The aroma of banh chung, a sticky rice cake bursting with savory goodness, fills the air. Round fruits, symbols of prosperity, adorn tables alongside vibrant flowers. Each bite, each sip, is a celebration of abundance and togetherness.

A Dance of Lions and Red Envelopes

Children’s eyes sparkle as they chase playful lion dancers, their pockets jingling with lucky money tucked inside red envelopes called Li Xi, a symbol of good fortune and blessings for the year ahead. The Li Xi tradition is seen as a symbol of good fortune, happiness, and success.

Whispers of Legends and Myths

As stories of Ong Tao and the race of the zodiac animals are shared, children’s imaginations take flight.
The story goes that animals raced across a river, hoping to win a place in the zodiac cycle. Despite being the smallest, the quick-witted rat hitched a ride on the mighty ox, securing first place and setting the order for the remaining animals: tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each year in the 12-year cycle is then associated with a specific animal, believed to influence the personalities of those born under its sign. This year, 2024, celebrates the powerful and ambitious Dragon.These ancient tales weave a thread of cultural heritage, reminding everyone of the values that bind them.

Ong Tao is a Tale of Redemption

In a bygone era, a lumberjack and his wife, Thi Nhi, lived peacefully in a village. Sadly, they faced the hardship of childlessness, which led the lumberjack to drown his sorrows in drink and mistreat his wife. Unable to endure this, Thi Nhi found solace and new life with a hunter from a nearby village.

Years passed, and remorse struck the lumberjack. He sought forgiveness, visiting Thi Nhi’s home. To avoid conflict, she hid him in a barn near the cooking fire. But fate played a cruel hand. A stray ember set the barn ablaze, trapping the lumberjack inside. In a selfless act, Thi Nhi and the hunter rushed to save him, sacrificing their own lives in the fiery struggle.
Touched by their tragic tale and unwavering love, the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, bestowed upon them an eternal honor. He transformed them into the Three Geniuses of the Foyer, known as Ong Tao, protectors of the Vietnamese household and its kitchen.

Each year, on the 23rd day of the last lunar month, Ong Tao ascends to the Jade Emperor’s court, carrying reports of the family’s past year. To celebrate this journey and seek Ong Tao’s favor, the Vietnamese observe Tet Ong Tao, a festive day filled with offerings and gratitude. In 2024, Ong Tao embarks on this important mission on February 2nd.

This is a story of hardship, redemption, and ultimately, the enduring power of love and selflessness. It serves as a reminder of the importance of family harmony and the role of kitchen hearth as a symbol of warmth and togetherness.

Superstitions Whispering in the Wind

Tet is sprinkled with playful superstitions, believed to usher in good fortune. From avoiding hair washing to embracing red and gold hues, these charming traditions add a touch of magic to the festivities.

A Closing Symphony of Laughter

As the week draws to a close, the last act unfolds in a symphony of laughter and goodbyes. Families cherish the memories forged, the bonds strengthened, and the hope for a prosperous year ahead.

Tet Nguyen Dan is more than just a celebration; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of history, family, and hope. It’s a reminder that even in the face of change, some things remain constant: the love of family, the power of tradition, and the unwavering spirit of renewal.

So, the next time you hear the whispers of Tet, remember the vibrant dance of traditions it embodies. Open your heart to its magic, and let it remind you of the beauty of life’s simple joys, celebrated with loved ones under the warm glow of a new year.

From original article : The Lunar New Year in Vietnam: a thousand-faceted millennial celebration

Christmas in Ba Be National Park

Christmas in Vietnam is a unique cultural mix, where Christians and non-Christians participate together in the festivities.

Christmas in Vietnam,
a short introduction

In Vietnam, celebrating Christmas is a relatively recent custom, then that we owe to the French settlers, settled in Indochina during the 19th century.

If some Portuguese and French missionaries testified to having celebrated a Christmas mass in Vietnam in the 16th century, it is the opening of the Blue Dragon Country to the outside world, initiated by the economic policy of Doi Moi in the late 1980s, which really popularized this typically Western festival.

Nowadays, Christmas in Vietnam is a special atmosphere, festive, popular and good-natured, where Christians and non-Christians come together to share moments of peace and joy, each according to their beliefs.

Celebrate Christmas in Vietnam today

If Christmas is obviously first of all a religious holiday, we see in Vietnam a kind of large commercial mass in which shops, restaurants and other brands compete for promotional offers.

Vietnamese people love Christmas trees, lights and candles. In addition, they like to eat traditional Christmas foods, such as buche, gingerbread and sweets. Churches, houses and shops are adorned with lights, garlands and other flashy objects. Families and friends gather in churches to pray and receive communion, others gather to share a meal often similar to that of the Vietnamese Tet and to exchange gifts. In big cities like Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang, we like to stroll in the streets decorated and dizzying animation, surrounded by the sound of Vietnamese Christmas music, while Santa Claus scooter parades and shows help to make this holiday a period full of good humor and atypical.

Did you know that?  In Vietnam, Christmas is not a holiday, so most shops, restaurants and sights are open on December 24 and 25.

Christmas celebrations in the Northern Provinces Vietnam

Considered the cradle of Catholicism in the Land of Palanches, the provinces of Ninh Binh and Nam Binh (in northern Vietnam) list many Catholic families who celebrate Christmas with fervour. They attend midnight mass, sing Christmas carols and stage the nativity by installing sumptuous nativity scenes on the forecourt of churches.

Did you know that? Ninh Binh has the largest concentration of churches in the country, including the impressive Phat Diem Cathedral, remarkable for its unique architecture, mixing Eastern and European influences. It is also the seat of Catholicism in Vietnam.

Even further north, the regions of Tonkin and Upper Tonkin Vietnam offer beautiful landscapes, which can be enjoyed especially during the Christmas period. You can for example visit the mountains of Sa Pa, the rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai or Pu Luong, Halong Bay or Ba Be Lake. So many destinations to admire nature, hike, kayak or bike… and enjoy the local cuisine !

Christmas in Ba Be National Park

Appreciated for its wild beauty easily accessible from Hanoi, the Ba Be National Park is an exceptional natural heritage, refuge of a rare and diversified ecosystem. During Christmas time, enjoy the legendary lake, one of the world’s largest natural freshwater lakes, explore caves, hike through the jungle… and rest at Ba Be Jungle Houses.

Did you know that? Ba Be National Park hides a cave now known as «Son Doong of North-Vietnam», in reference to its big sister located in Phong Nha – Ke Bang (Central Vietnam), whose wild beauty and geological interest, but also accessible (and much cheaper).

Christmas in Ba Be National Park is an opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of local ethnicities, such as the Tay, Nung, Dao and Hmong, in addition to offering opportunities for hiking on land and underground, kayaking, biking or boating.

Ba Be Jungle Houses is the ideal starting point: Jungle Resort located in the heart of the Park, this homestay is designed and built according to the architectural rules of the local ethnic groups, especially the wooden house on stilts, typical of the Tay ethnic community. The accommodations combine comfort with natural and local authenticity, offering a unique experience of immersion in Vietnamese culture.

Connected to nature and local communities, experience a Christmas holiday like no other in the Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan Province, North Vietnam!

Follow this link to know all about Ba Be Jungle Houses (where it is, how to get there, what to do…)

With the aim of creating an exciting, challenging, and humanitarian sporting event for sports enthusiasts, while also promoting the magnificent natural beauty of Ba Be, the Ba Be Adventure Race 2023 has been carefully prepared for a long time and is officially sanctioned by the Bac Kan Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to be held from November 16th to 18th, 2023. The race spans three days, consisting of two stages with two different disciplines: SUP/kayaking and trail marathon. The competition will involve 15 teams, each comprising 6 members. What makes this race unique and captivating is that each stage will incorporate “cultural challenges” such as spear throwing, archery, rice pounding, etc., to enhance your experience of the race in Ba Be. All proceeds from ticket sales will be used by the organizing committee to support equipment and educational tools for schools facing difficulties and shortages in Ba Be. Joining us means not only participating in a race but also creating lifelong experiences and everlasting humanitarian values.

Ba Be Adventure Race 2023 is ready to welcome 15 passionate and strong teams.

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