Vietnamese people in the old days put up tall bamboo poles with red garment strips hanging from them during Tet, believing that poles prevented ghosts and monsters from entering the community during the holiday. The tradition of raising the neu (or Tet) pole remains alive today in many villages and homes around the country.

Some pictures of the ceremony held on February 11.

 

 

A procession of people dressed in costumes of royal mandarins, soldiers and musicians enters the former Royal Palace.

 

 

 

 

Soldiers carry a long bamboo tree to be used as the Tet pole.

 

 

 

 

The procession includes a music troupe playing nha nhac (Hue royal court music) .

 

 

 

 

The procession goes further inside the palace, where the pole will be put up.

 

 

 

 

At the site, an altar is set for praying to the gods before the pole is raised.

 

 

 

 

 

Soldiers await orders with the bamboo pole on their shoulders during the ritual ceremony.

 

 

 

 

Joint power helps to raise the pole.

 

 

 

 

 

The pole is up successfully, signaling the coming of a happy Tet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

VNS/VNE