Published:  10:00 Saturday - January 21, 2017

Thousands of cultural activities are taking place in the Old Quarter and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi to welcome the Year of the Rooster. Tourists will not regret choosing Hanoi to be the destination on the Lunar New Year.

At Kim Ngan Temple (42-44 Hang Bac Street), the management board of the Old Quarter opened on January 19 an exhibition of three folk painting genres: Hang Trong and Kim Hoang of Hanoi, and Dong Ho of Bac Ninh province. It also arranges a traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) space there.

 Hang Trong painting: "Dragon dance"

Visitors can also gain an insight into traditional Tet arrangements by a genuine Hanoi family in the Heritage House at 87 Ma May street or those by a typical family in northern Vietnam at the Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre, located at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street.

Meanwhile, the art of calligraphy, the making of folk Tet paintings and the demonstration of modern use of traditional fine art products are being offered at the Hanoi Old Quarter Heritage Information Centre at 28 Hang Buom street.

The art of calligraphy

Traditional musical performances are also held in various relic sites in the Old Quarter.

Talking about cultural activities to welcome Tet, Tran Thuy Lan, deputy head of the Old Quarter management board, said Tet celebrations are a way for the Vietnamese people to pay homage to their ancestors and preserve traditional values.

Those activities will take place through February 12 (or the 16th day of the first lunar month).

At the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a myriad of activities will be held from January 20 to February 28 to celebrate Tet.

They include an exhibition of folk Tet paintings of Hang Trong, Kim Hoang and Dong Ho, and a display of 15 royal costumes of Trinh Lords and Nguyen Kings. The best 100 among entries in a Vietnam heritage photo contest will also be showcased.

Once coming to the Imperial Citadel, people can visit the newly discovered archaeological site there while having a better understanding of Kinh Thien Palace through the recreation of this palace’s incense offering space.

The rituals of worshipping the Kitchen Gods and offering incense to late kings in the past will also be reenacted.

The Imperial Citadel will close from January 26 to 28 (from the 29th day of the old year’s last lunar month to the first day of the Lunar New Year) and be re-opened on January 29.