The Hùng Kinh's Temple in the northern province of Phú Thọ. — Photo baophutho.vn

HÀ NỘI — The increasing global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has forced the organisers of national and international cultural events and celebrations to change schedules, reduce scale or even cancel the events.

These events include the Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival in the north, the 7th Việt Nam-Japan friendship celebration in Hà Nội, the Ngũ Hành Sơn- Quan Thế Âm (Marble Mountains- Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) in the central region, and the Đờn ca tài tử (southern folk music) festival in the couth.

The Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival will be scaled down in the northern province of Phú Thọ with a shortened and simplified programme due to fears of the epidemic spreading.

Director of temple Lê Trường Giang said the Standing Committee of Phú Thọ Province’s Party Committee had agreed with a proposal from the Provincial People's Committee to reorganise the event the complicated developments of the epidemic.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the main organiser of the festival, has also agreed with the changes.

He said that this year all cultural festivals will be halted to prevent people from gathering in large crowds, but spiritual ceremonies will still be held.

A spiritual ceremony during the Hùng Kings' Temple Festival is the most important ritual dedicated to the legendary founders of the nation. — VNA/VNS Photo Thành Đạt

These will include an incense offering ceremony - the most important ritual dedicated to the legendary founders of the nation, according to Phú Thọ authorities.

Cultural festival activities such as folk games, traditional music performances, and sports competitions will be cancelled.

Giang said to prepare for the event this year, organisers will focus more on promoting people’s awareness of safety and hygiene.

They will set up booths to offer masks and sanitisers for visitors.

Public toilets will be sterilised regularly.

According to Giang, the organisers had also asked the Provincial Anti-epidemic Steering Committee to supply them with medical equipment including thermometres.

The Hùng Kings Temple Festival was scheduled to be held on April 2 in Việt Trì. 

Each year, on average, the site welcomes about 6-7 million domestic and foreign visitors. 

During the festival, events are also held across the country’s 1,400 Hùng King temples, but the main ceremony is held in Phú Thọ.

Meanwhile, the Việt Nam-Japan Festival which was planned for March has been postponed to the end of the year, according to a report by the Japan-Việt Nam Friendship Alliance.

Organisers said they would keep the scheduled programme and even expand the scale.

About 160 booths of both Vietnamese and Japanese goods will be set up at the event featuring the two countries’ traditions, cultures, tourism, sport, local handicrafts and other products and services.

The central city of Đà Nẵng’s Ngũ Hành Sơn District authorities have also decided to postpone the Ngũ Hành Sơn- Quan Thế Âm (Marble Mountains- Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) Festival, one of the 15 biggest cultural events in the city.

The festival, which should have been taking place on March 3, has been postponed indefinitely.

In the south, Cần Thơ City has moved the Đờn Ca Tài Tử Festival to October. — VNS