Although
Tet Nguyen Tieu originates from China, when being spread to Vietnam,
Tet Nguyen Tieu has adopted to the particular cultural aspect of Vietnam
and plays a significant role in Vietnamese's cultural and religious life.
Most
Vietnamese people believe that the First Full Moon of the New Year is
the most important among all full moons throughout the year. On January
15th of Lunar Calendar, people are supposed to go to pagodas and pray
for the best things coming to every family members and their beloved
friends. It is not uncommon to see people eating vegan food and drinking
plain water on the special day. Peaceful mind and lucks for the coming
year are the general purposes.
Vegetarian food is commonly enjoyed to purify soul
In Ho Chi Minh City,
the Cho Lon in District 5 is the most exciting place to visit during
Tet Nguyen Tieu. You may try che troi nuoc, a special kind dessert, the
sweet soup with rounded ball made from glutinous rice and sugar sauce,
which symbolizes for “Reunion”. The Cultural Center of District 5 is
often the place where most activities to celebrate Tet Nguyen Tieu take
place.
By coming over the center from
12th-15th , visitors may get a chance to experience the exciting
atmosphere of the Hoa community here. People gather to see the
lion-dragon dance show. It is believed the lion-dragon’s appearance
brings luck, prosperity and success for the New Year. Besides, visitors
can enjoy the parades around the streets in District 5 with many people
and decorated vehicles, which is somehow like a small street carnival.
Please
make sure your camera is fully charged so that you can shoot or record
any moment you would like. You are surely interested in those activities
which you may not find anywhere else at anytime else.
If
you want to have a shot of lanterns without traveling to Hoi An which
is too far away from Ho Chi Minh City, you may like Tet Nguyen Tieu at
the Cultural Center of District 5. Lanterns are decorated and exhibited
in a gorgeous way. Along the streets, lanterns are also hung up in rows.
That’s why visitors who even have been to District 5 before still get
amazed at what they are seeing at the moment and wonder if they are
traveling to another country.
While
District 1 is younger with lots of occidental architecture and
sparkling luxurious buildings to welcome Tet, District 5, as time passes
by, still remains its oriental beauty of old-styled houses and
intrinsic cultural values gathered by the Hoa community living here. Tet
Nguyen Tieu, one of the biggest events beside Tet, cannot be missed
with any excuse because of the chance to feel and take a breath of a
combined Vietnamese-Chinese culture that visitors can hardly find out at
any other places.
In general, Tet
Nguyen Tieu is celebrated among the Buddhist community, especially in
the centre and southern part of Vietnam. Similar to Ho Chi Minh City, if
you are in Hue city
and Danang during the occasion, you will see a grand, though a lot
calmer, celebration of Tet Nguyen Tieu. Vegetarianism is widely
practiced.
In the Northern part like
Thanh Hoa or Hanoi, Tet Nguyen Tieu is more to pray to the ancestors:
people will be busy shopping for grocery and paper offerings to present
the most beautiful flowers and freshest fruits to put up on the family's
altars.
Vietnamonline
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