Spring festival opens to honour national culture

Nhan Dan Online – A festival themed ‘Spring honouring nation’s culture’ is underway from April 5¬–9 at Bao Son Paradise Park in Hanoi to commemorate Vietnam Ethnic Groups Cultural Day (April 14) and the Hung Kings Temple Festival (lunar March 10).

VJA Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Thuan Huu speaking at the opening
VJA Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Thuan Huu speaking at the opening

Held by the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) in co-ordination with related social organisations, the festival also aims to honour and promote the nation’s tangible ​​and intangible cultural values, in addition to launching a fundraising movement for a charity that supports disadvantaged children in Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, VJA Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper Thuan Huu said that the festival has practical significance for cultural activities in general and journalistic activities in particular. Journalism and culture have a close relationship that cannot be separated, he said, adding that the era of the digital information explosion has created both advantages and challenges for the media in preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation.

He urged VJA members and the media to co-ordinate closely with other related authorities, social organisations and the people towards the common goal of building and promoting an advanced Vietnamese culture filled with national identity.

After the flag raising ceremony that opened the festival, special cultural activities are taking place including exhibitions on craft villages and traditional Vietnamese bravery as well as food fairs, traditional music, and folk games.

One hundred booths have also been set up that introduce the products and services of villages and artisans across the nation.

Under the framework of the festival, an incense burning ceremony to commemorate the Hung Kings is organised today and two chung cakes weighing a total of 2 tonnes will be made during the event.

Spring festival opens to honour national culture ảnh 1

The ceremonial flag raised during the opening ceremony

Spring festival opens to honour national culture ảnh 2

Booths display traditional products of craft villages from across Vietnam.