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Ban Soc ceremony (a ceremony to distribute calendars for royal mandarins during Nguyen Dynasty) is enacted at Ngo Mon Gate of Hue Imperial Citadel by Hue Monuments Conservation Centre. The event attracts a lot of locals and visitors. Photos: VNA
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Ban Soc ceremony was held on the first day of the last lunar month during Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1945). 
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Vietnamese people during feudal era mostly lived on agriculture. Calendar, as the matter of fact, was important for them to calculate days for cultivation. In the photo: Ban Soc ceremony is enacted.
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The first grand calendar distribution ceremony was held in the beginning of Minh Mang King’s reign (1820–1841).
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Nguyen kings organised the Ban Soc ceremony to distribute calendars for royal mandarins at Ngo Mon (Noon Gate). Ordinary people received calendar in their localities.
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Ban Soc ceremony had been held in Thai Hoa Palace Court until King Minh Mang (1791–1841) decided to organised it at Ngo Mon Gate in 1841 so that the ceremony could be closer to ordinary people. 
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Reenactment of Ban Soc ceremony in Hue Imperial Citadel offers locals and tourists a chance to turn back time to the Nguyen Dynasty to understand more about local culture. Photos: VNA

VNP/VNA

Hue Imperial Citadel hosts reenactment of Cay Neu ceremony

Hue Imperial Citadel hosts reenactment of Cay Neu ceremony

A ceremony involving the lowering of a Cay Neu, a tall bamboo pole featuring red pieces of garments which are used to ward off evil spirits during the Lunar New Year, took place at the Hue Imperial Citadel on January 31.

Hue to host long dress festival

Hue to host long dress festival

The central province will host the ao dai (traditional long dress) and cuisine festival in Hue on December 18-23.