A whole host of cultural activities recreating the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet) will take place on January 18 (the 24th day of lunar December) in cultural spaces around Hanoi’s Old Quarter and vehicle-free pedestrian mall.

The most important ritual will be a tree-planting ceremony in front of Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake at 3pm. Others include folk performances such as lion dances from the Ly Dynasty, “temple-gate” folk dancing and singing, “bong” dances (a dance from ancient Thang Long Citadel performed by young male dancers), “Xoan” folk singing, and other unique regional folk music.

At Kim Ngan Temple, 42 Hang Bac Street, will be activities worshiping the tutelary god, “temple-gate” singing and worship songs for the tutelary genie, exhibits of Kim Hoang and Dong Ho paintings, displays of lion and unicorn heads from the Ly Dynasty, and other folk performances.

The rituals of wrapping “banh chung” (square sticky rice cakes) and a typical year-end worshiping ceremony of Hanoian families will be held at Heritage House (87 Ma May Street). Visitors will have the chance to experience a traditional and festive Hanoi ambience, try some Tet dishes, admire Hang Trong folk paintings, and receive lucky writings from a calligraphy master.

On the same day, at the Cultural Exchange Center in the Old Quarter, 50 Dao Duy Tu Street, will be an exhibition called “Mouse Wedding” and other types of folk performances.

The series of special performances (from 8am until 9pm) is being organized by the Vietnamese Village Temple Group in cooperation with the Cultural Center of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, on the occasion of the 1010th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi (1010-2020). VN Economic Time