(Cinet)- Vietnam is the home to 54 ethnic minority groups. Each ethnic minority group has its own festivals, customs, beliefs and farming practice. For some ethnic minority groups, New Year lasts about half a month, during which time many exciting cultural and community activities will take place. Following are traditional New Year customs of some ethnic minority groups in Vietnam. 1. New Year of Muong ethnic minority In term of sequence and customs, the New Year of Muong ethnic minority people is quite similar to the New Year of Kinh people. There is a unique tradition of “sac bua” singing that is being preserved. This is a kind of singing to wish Happy New Year. On the first and second days of the first month of the Lunar New Year, Muong children gather together to beat gongs and sing “sac bua”. They go through any household, which opens its doors to give children some money or cake.The popular games during the New Year of the Nung ethnic … [Read more...] about Traditional New Year of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups
New years drinks
Park Hyatt Saigon with Specific Programmes to Welcome New Year
The Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel, at 2 Lam Son, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, will offer specific programmes to welcome Christmas and the New Year. Chefs of the hotel, led by Stefan Moerth, will prepare special menus for customers on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year, including Christmas Tea with Santa, Eve Dinner at Opera or Year-end Dinner at Square One. The programme starts from November 27 to December 31, 2005. On the special occasion, the hotel’s guests and their relatives and colleagues will have a good opportunity to enjoy delicious food and drink, welcoming a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel will invite orchestras from the Saigon Children’s Charity and International Choir to perform from December 10-25. In particular, the Christmas procession on December 10 will be the beginning of the occasion with the aim of sending best wishes to everyone. Q.D … [Read more...] about Park Hyatt Saigon with Specific Programmes to Welcome New Year
New Year Fortune Praying Custom of Van Kieu, Pa Co Peoples
On the first day of every New Year, Ho Hai Rieng, an elderly woman of Van Kieu ethnic group in Khe Da village, Lao Bao town, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province, wearing her best clothes and scarf, carries a basket on her back and leads her descendants to Lao Bao to pray for New Year fortune and luck. Rieng, over 60, does not know the origin of this custom. She only remembers that she followed her parents to pray New Year fortune since her childhood. Her villagers visited all Kinh families in Lao Bao town to say nice words, wish for a better New Year and gain luck. The receive gifts, such as cake, fruit or candy, depending on the hosts. They asked for luck, not to ease their hunger, Rieng said. “All my villagers go to Lao Bao to beg for lucks. If the hosts do not have gifts, they are also very happy to drink just a cup of wine and go to other houses.” On the first days of the New Year, the border town of Lao Bao is full of pilgrims begging for New Year fortunes. … [Read more...] about New Year Fortune Praying Custom of Van Kieu, Pa Co Peoples
Thai New Year in Son La
The biggest market day of the year of the Thai people is the 25th day of the last month of the lunar year. People go to the fair to buy things for the New Year Festival and relax after a year of hard work. The market is more boisterous than other gatherings in the year as people bring their products to sell, both what they make and what they get from nature. Before the final day of the lunar year, the Thai people usually make two types of chung cake, black and white. To make black chung cake, they burn rice straw and take the ash to mix with rice and bray them together. Then, they sieve off ash. Many people do not use stuffing because they think that the taste of chung cake mainly comes from phrynium leaves. They boil the chung cake and pork on the last day of lunar year. In the evening, they host New Year’s Eve Party with friends and relatives. They drink through the night. After the New Year worship, they beat gongs to welcome the New Year. The Thai people get up very early … [Read more...] about Thai New Year in Son La
Diva and divo to rock New Year countdown music party
The A-list singer will team up with Việt Nam’s leading rock band Ngũ Cung (Pentatonic) during a special music performance to bid farewell to 2016 and welcome the New Year.Some of Linh’s hits, which include the ones written by her composer husband Anh Quân, are Sắc Màu (The Colours), and Hương Ngọc Lan (The Scent of Magnolia), will get a refreshing turn when they are remixed in rock style.Along with Linh, divo Tùng Dương is expected to surprise audiences when he also performs his 2012 hit Chiếc Khăn Piêu (The Piêu Ethnic Scarf) in rock style.Dương and Linh will sing a duet to present the song Ngẫu Hứng Sông Hồng (Red River Impromptu).Rocker Kasim Hoàng Vũ will also take part in the show to stir up the atmosphere of the evening.Earlier, a line-up of young singers and music bands will gather to offer a special repertoire, which depicts Hà Nội in … [Read more...] about Diva and divo to rock New Year countdown music party
Indian New Year gala in HCM City
This year it will be celebrated today at Queen Hall on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4 on April 18. — VNS Photo HCM CITY (VNS) —There is no single Indian New Year, but Indians living in HCM City celebrate UTSAV every year in mid-April, when it is indeed New Year in many parts of that country. This year it will be celebrated today at Queen Hall on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in District 4 on April 18.The fun starts at 6.30pm with cultural shows, a fashion show featuring clothes from various states, dances from around the country, Bollywood music and dance with an Indian DJ. Of course, there will be lots of Indian food as well as drinks.Organisers said UTSAV was usually a family occasion, with lots of fun and games for children too.Tickets cost VND650,000 (VND800,000 if bought at the gate). To buy tickets and for more information, contact Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam (INCHAM) 84-8-38238132 or [email protected] — VNS … [Read more...] about Indian New Year gala in HCM City
Shambolic organisation plagues lunar new year festivals
Despite efforts made by local authorities, cheating and price gouging have continued at lunar new year festivals across the country. Flows of people coming to Huong pagoda festival Taking advantage of long holiday, thousands of people have flocked to major festivals. Serious overcrowding and other public safety issues were recorded at festivals at the Huong Pagoda of Hanoi’s My Duc District and Phu Giay in Nam Dinh Province’s Vu Ban District. The Huong Pagoda festival opened on the sixth day of the lunar year. The three month long festival marked the start of series of events which comprise of the national tourism year in Red River Delta – Haiphong region. Nguyen Chi Thanh, head of the Huong Son management board said over 50,000 visitors attended the opening ceremony this year. 250,000 people visited the site during the first few days of the event and a total of 1.5 million visitors is expected this year. Around 4,800 boats were put in use to … [Read more...] about Shambolic organisation plagues lunar new year festivals
Making plans for holding a festival to celebrate a 2008 new year in Ho Chi Minh City
(Cinet)- Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has just directed authorized units about plans for holding a festival to celebrate a 2008 new year. This festival is expected to start at 8 p.m of 28th December 2007 and end at 12 p.m of 1st January 2008 at 30-4 Park. This is a central organizing site of activities with 4 sub-stages and a major stage installed outdoors on Le Duan Road. The activity content in each sub-stage of the park presents eating and drinking culture of Viet, Chinese, Cham and Khmer; and has elected places for Ha Long Bay, one of the 7 world natural wonders. Going along Le Duan road route from Dinh Thong Nhat to Cam Vien Garden, things will be decorated; activities in Thao Cam Vien, Zone B, and 23/9 Park will be held to attract customers e.g. In addition, Department of Culture and Information also coordinates with local authorities to organize activities, especially on the outskirts and suburbs: Thu Duc, Binh Chanh. Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Go … [Read more...] about Making plans for holding a festival to celebrate a 2008 new year in Ho Chi Minh City
Majority stand against New Years merger
Last week, Viet Nam News raised the topic following recent proposals by experts and economists about merging the solar and lunar new years into one by celebrating the traditional one altogether with the solar New Year. Here are some opinions we collected. Amiad Horowitz, American, Ha Noi I think it would be a sad day if Viet Nam ever gave up its traditions for the sake of the economy. Every country and culture is unique. That's part of doing international business. Ricky Forester, American, Ha Noi Tet is Asian tradition and moreover very important in family life here in Viet Nam. I think it would be wrong to screw with it. If people do not like Tet, do not live in Viet Nam. If people do not like New Year, they should not live in New York. As for merging them, they mean different things to different people and I feel they should be separate as they are. Companies that employ foreigners should allow those foreigners to have their holidays off. I own a company and will … [Read more...] about Majority stand against New Years merger
Raising a toast remains popular New Year ritual
Raising a toast continues to remain a traditional habit around the world during New Year, according to a global study released last month by Diageo on how people celebrate modern festivals.The study, which polled almost 7,000 adults, also found that people around the world toast to celebrate their promotion at the workplace or to get noticed by their love interest.From clinking glasses to toasting, the research explores the cultural significance of celebration rituals. Nearly half (47 per cent) agreed that marking a moment through a specific act or phrase is a crucial part of their cultural heritage, while a superstitious fifth (20 per cent) do so in order to ward off bad luck in their romantic endeavours.Men are the most likely to use a toast to attempt to impress their loved ones, with 43 per cent seeing a toast as a way to catch the eye of a romantic interest, compared to only a third of women.Carolyn Panzer, Alcohol in Society Director, Diageo, said: “Toasting as a way to … [Read more...] about Raising a toast remains popular New Year ritual