Press Release: Vietnam Tet Festival 2024 at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Tet Nguyen Dan, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most significant and sacred festival of the Vietnamese people. It is also referred to as “Tet Ta” or the “Lunar New Year” to distinguish it from the Western New Year. Tet Nguyen Dan marks the beginning of a new year, symbolizing the transition between the old year and the new year. It is a time to close the chapters of the past year and look forward to the new beginnings and blessings of the coming year. Tet Nguyen Dan begins on the 23rd day of the last lunar month and concludes on the 7th day of the first lunar month, encompassing numerous traditional ceremonies and customs both in the royal courts and among the common people. During this period, all work is paused to honor ancestors and deities, rest, reunite, visit relatives, and express hopes for luck and prosperity.
Tet Nguyen Dan is renowned for its unique customs and deep cultural significance throughout Vietnam. Especially in the ancient capital of Thang Long, the festival’s cultural richness is magnified, showcasing a blend of royal and traditional folk cultures.
To celebrate and promote the cultural values of royal and traditional Tet customs in Thang Long – Dong Do – Hanoi, the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center will organize a series of Tet activities from January 20, 2024 (the 10th day of the lunar month in the Year of the Cat) to February 18, 2024 (the 9th day of the lunar month in the Year of the Dragon). These activities will include:
1. Traditional Tet Exhibition (From January 20, 2024)
1.1. Folk Tet exhibition Space
The traditional folk Tet exhibition will recreate the festive atmosphere of a city-dwelling family’s Tet celebrations in the ancient capital. The display will feature customs such as ancestor and deity worship, hanging Tet paintings and couplets, setting off fireworks, making Banh Chung (square sticky rice cakes), calligraphy, New Year greetings, giving lucky money, and enjoying Tet flowers. The exhibition space will have an ancient feel, reflecting the culture and architecture of old Hanoi’s streets.
The traditional Tet customs space will depict the bustling and hurried atmosphere of the year’s end: shopping for Tet food at the market, cleaning and decorating ancestral altars and homes, making Banh Chung, sausages, and candied fruits. Every family will share the excitement of preparing for a prosperous and ample Tet celebration.
1.2. Royal Tet Exhibition Space: The Rivival Le Dynasty’s Chinh Dan (Main Tet) Ceremony
Under the monarchy, the king and the royal court represented the people and the prosperity and stability of the nation. This led to the establishment of a system of royal Tet ceremonies that were solemn, dignified, and symbolized the supreme power of the emperor. During the Rivival Le Dynasty, the royal Tet ceremonies included a series of rituals that took place from the end of the last lunar month of the old year to the 7th day of the first lunar month of the new year. These rituals included: the Kitchen Gods worship ceremony, the calendar presentation ceremony, the spring ox procession ceremony, the seal cleaning and sealing ceremony, the ancestor invitation ceremony, the pole erection ceremony, the New Year’s Eve ceremony, the ancestor worship ceremony, the Chinh Dan (Main Tet) ceremony, the king’s longevity celebration ceremony, the heaven worship ceremony, the pole lowering ceremony, and the seal opening ceremony. Among these, the Chinh Dan ceremony was one of the most important court rituals.
The Chinh Dan ceremony was held early in the morning on the first day of Tet with the grand and solemn Great Court ceremony at the Kinh Thien Palace courtyard. The Chinh Dan ceremony was a royal gathering, where the king, the royal family, and the officials met on the first day of the new year to wish the king longevity, and the people peace and prosperity. During the Chinh Dan ceremony, representatives from the 12 regions of the country presented congratulatory scrolls to the king. On this occasion, the king also hosted a banquet and distributed spring gifts to the civil and military officials. This tradition of hosting a banquet and giving gifts dates back to the Ly and Tran Dynasties, reflecting the ruler’s care for his subjects.
The Chinh Dan ceremony exhibition is divided into three main sections:
- A system of illustrated panels reconstructing the Chinh Dan ceremony in the Thang Long royal court during the Le Dynasty.
- A reconstructed space showing the ritual of presenting congratulatory scrolls to the king for blessings and longevity.
- This year’s highlight is the first-ever 3D film presentation of a royal Tet ceremony, “The Le Dynasty’s Chinh Dan Ceremony.” The film will offer visitors a full 360-degree immersive experience with impressive sound, lighting, and storytelling, allowing them to experience the solemn and unique atmosphere of the ancient court’s Chinh Dan ceremony. The film will feature rituals such as: presenting the scrolls at the Kinh Thien Palace courtyard; the king’s procession to the Kinh Thien Palace; the king ascending the throne, the civil and military officials performing their rites; the scroll presentation ceremony; and the officials congratulating the king.
- Location: Traditional folk Tet at the Reception Area, 19C Hoang Dieu Street
Royal Tet at the Kinh Thien Palace courtyard, N14.
2. “Draw the Dragon” Exhibition: Open from 3 PM – 5 PM on January 20, 2024(10th day of the lunar month in the Year of the Cat)
This exhibition is a collaboration between the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center, the creative enterprise TiredCity, and the Vietnam Local Artist Group (VLAG).
The “Draw the Dragon” exhibition aims to showcase and celebrate the creative achievements of more than 25 young illustrators.
The exhibition will display 30 illustration artworks by over 25 artists from across the country. These are impressive and outstanding works selected from more than 350 entries in the illustration challenge held in November 2023.
Visitors to the “Drawing the Dragon” exhibition at The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long will enter a world of sacred and mysterious dragon creatures inspired by the legends in Vietnamese culture, especially those related to the The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long itself. Crafted by the brushstrokes and imaginative ideas of young illustrators, the dragon paintings convey a heroic spirit and strong national identity while being accessible and relatable to young audiences who love culture and art.
3. “Happy Tet 2024 – Spreading the Essence of Traditional Tet Culture” from January 24 – 28, 2024 (14th – 18th day of the lunar month in the Year of the Cat).
This program is organized by the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center in collaboration with the City’s Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Center.
Happy Tet 2024, with the theme “Spreading the Essence of Traditional Tet Culture,” combines the ancient royal Tet traditions with modern Tet culture to create a sacred and lively atmosphere. Spanning an area of 3,000 – 3,500 square meters, the elaborately and creatively designed space will introduce traditional Tet celebrations, tourist destinations, and cultural heritage values from different regions of the country. The program includes various themed areas such as “The Hometown Train,” “Old Hanoi House Space,” “Central Region Tet Space,” “Southern Region Tet Space,” “Ethnic Colors Tet Space,” and “Cuisine Promotion Space.” These spaces will be artistically arranged with miniature scenes showcasing famous tourist destinations in Hanoi like Long Bien Bridge, Dong Xuan Market, Me Linh Flower Market, and West Lake. Additionally, there will be stalls replicating Phai Street houses, recreating the bustling trade atmosphere of old Hanoi.
Moreover, during the Tet festival at The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long , there will be activities reenacting traditional ceremonies such as releasing carp, erecting the Tet pole, sealing ceremonies, presenting calendars, and the Spring Opening ceremony. Many other unique traditional cultural activities will also take place.
The entire heritage site will be decorated with landscapes, trees, and flowers, featuring numerous flower gardens and check-in spots for visitors to enjoy the spring festival at The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long as they welcome the New Year.
Contact Info:
- Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center
- Address: 19C Hoang Dieu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
- Tel: 024. 3 7345427
THANG LONG – HANOI HERITAGE CONSERVATION CENTER
