HÀ NỘI — Many traditional festivals are being reproduced across the country to provide a boost to the tourism sector and to keep the traditions themselves alive.

The “Đoan Ngọ Festival: Past and Present” is an example. The festival was held recently at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, offering visitors an array of experiences in royal culture as well as traditional rituals.

According to the Thăng Long-Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre, during the late Lê Dynasty (1533-1789), emperors would host a ritual during the Đoan Ngọ Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, to present fans to all mandarins. Alongside showing the kings’ care for the mandarins, the presentation also offered good blessings, health and luck to the recipients.

A reenactment of the fan offering ritual, as part of the “Đoan Ngọ Festival: Past and Present”, took place at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel on June 1. VNA/VNS — Photo Thanh Tùng

Reenactments of old festivals have also been held in Huế, including Tế Xã Tắc (Worshiping the Genies of Rice and Soil). It was one of the most important rituals performed by kings of successive feudal dynasties every spring to pray for abundant crops and peace.

At the end of June, within the framework of the Huế Festival, the savoury yet delicate treat that was served only in the ancient Huế royal court – the phoenix spring rolls – were offered to many tourists as part of the products implemented by the Thừa Thiên-Huế’s Department of Tourism. According to its director Nguyễn Văn Phúc, this activity is expected to help Huế's tourism develop sustainably.

A phoenix-shaped kite at Huế Festival 2022. Artisans have presented nearly 100 traditional kites at the event. — Photo nld.com.vn

A kite festival is also another event worth experiencing in Huế.

Under Bảo Đại Emperor, kite competitions were held during holidays. The art of making kites has been improved through generations of local kite-making artisans.

In April, at a kite festival, these artisans presented nearly 100 traditional kites in different shapes such as dragons, phoenixes, peacocks, butterflies, swallows, and goldfish. These kites have a wingspan of 1.5 metres to 3 metres.

Deputy Chairman of the National Heritage Council Đặng Văn Bài said that reproducing traditional festivals has the potential to attract a large number of tourists.

Assoc Prof. Dr Bùi Hoài Sơn, a permanent member of the Committee for Culture and Education of the National Assembly, agreed, saying that it is necessary to treat cultural tradition as part of tourism events.

"Creating events with cultural tradition does not only help the locality have more cultural events, thereby developing tourism, but also contributes to reviving them," he said. — VNS