HÀ NỘI — Traditional cultural activities will be hosted by the Đình Làng Việt (Vietnamese Communal House) group and the Hà Nội Old Quarter management board on January 18 in downtown Hà Nội.

The one-day Tết Việt (Vietnamese lunar new year) event will include the erection of a cây nêu (tall bamboo pole) and folk-art performance at the entrance of Ngọc Sơn Temple in Hoàn Kiếm Lake, Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street.

The bamboo pole will be stripped of its leaves, except for a tuft at the top. Symbolic objects including bows, arrows, bells, gongs and other leaves to ward off evil spirits will be hung on the tree with the hope that the bad luck of the previous year will be chased away, and everyone has a happy new year.

Traditional singing will be on show at Kim Ngân Communal House in Hàng Bạc Street, together with a display of folk art, like Đông Hồ and Kim Hoàng painting genres.

At a nearby ancient house on 87 Mã Mây Street, artisans will make bánh chưng (square sticky rice dumplings), draw calligraphy and practise the lunar year-end worship ceremony.

At the Centre for Cultural Exchange in 57 Đào Duy Từ Street, members of the group and visitors will exchange and perform music and singing.

Tết Việt, which has been hosted by the group every year since 2016 in So Village in Quốc Oai District, Lệ Mật Village in Long Biên, has drawn thousands of participants and has been highly appreciated by cultural workers and tourists.

The Đình Làng Việt (Vietnamese Communal Houses) group gathers dozens of people from all walks of life, who are keen on preserving the ancient values of communal houses.

This year, the group chose to host the event at Hà Nội’s Old Quarter as a cultural event to celebrate the 1,010th anniversary of Thăng Long-Hà Nội (1010-2020) to commemorate ancestors who built the capital, according to the group’s head Nguyễn Đức Bình.

“We hope to draw many tourists so they can learn about traditional Vietnamese customs during the lunar new year,” he said.

Entrance is free to all activities, yet the group welcomes financial contributions from individuals and agencies. All its members are encouraged to wear traditional long dress at the event. — VNS