Hanoi ushers in Lunar New Year with array of performances, events

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Hanoi will host a number of cultural activities on Jan. 18 around the pedestrian areas near Hoan Kiem Lake and in areas around the Old Quarter, DTI News has reported.

Among the activities will be an important tree-planting ceremony at Ngoc Son Temple at 3 p.m. There will also be many other folk activities including lion dances from the Ly Dynasty, “temple-gate” dancing and singing, “bong” dances from ancient Thang Long Citadel, “Xoan” singing and more.

There will be exhibits of Kim Hoang and Dong Ho paintings and a showcase of lion and unicorn heads from the Ly Dynasty. An integral tradition of Tet, the wrapping of banh chung, will take place at Heritage House at 87 Ma May Street. People can join in the Tet experience by trying traditional food, looking at Hang Trong paintings and admiring the lucky writings of a calligraphy master.

The exhibit called “Mouse Wedding” will take place at the Cultural Exchange Center on 50 Dao Duy Tu Street in Old Quarter.

All of these events and performances will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and are organized by the Vietnamese Village Temple Group and the Cultural Center of Hanoi’s Old Quarter.