VietNamNet Bridge – A spring festival to welcome the upcoming (Tet) Lunar New Year of the Horse is underway at the Vietnam Exhibition Centre for Culture and Arts, in the capital city of Hanoi.

Numerous exhibits, pictures and statues on display retrace Vietnam’s traditional festivals and historical milestones related to the year of the horse (reckoned by the lunar calendar).

There is a photo exhibition going along with a performance of installation, lighting and sound arts helping visitors relive the legend of Thanh Giong (Saint Giong), one of the immortals of Vietnamese folk belief, who manifests Vietnamese people’s determination to fight foreign invaders in the past as well as the strength of young Vietnamese people.

Apart from honouring Tet, Vietnam’s biggest festive season, and the value of Vietnamese cultural heritage, notably the UNESCO - recognised Giong festival, the festival, which opened on January 16 and runs through to January 23, looks to help businesses introduce quality goods to consumers to increase their sales.

A large number of essential goods, handicrafts, and interior decorations are present at nearly 100 pavilions installed as part of the festival to offer various choices for Hanoians to shop for their Tet holiday.

By now, preparations for other major festivals in the city have been completed, which was affirmed at a January 16 working session between officials of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the districts where the events will take place.

Accordingly, resources were mobilised to upgrade infrastructure and ensure public order and safety for the 2014 Huong (Perfume) pagoda festival in My Duc District and the Co Loa festival in Dong Anh District.

The department affirmed that the called “calligraphy street”, which is often formed in Van Mieu Street to serve the Tet festival, will be moved to the inner area of the Temple of Literature. Calligraphers will cater for visitors from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm on the first days of the lunar new year.

Source: Vietnam Plus