Lunar New Year Celebration 2017

Lunar New Year is the most important holidays in Vietnam. Often dubbed with Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year (following lunar calendar) is celebrated nationally not only in Mainland China, but also in a number of countries and territories such as Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong and Tibet. The first day of Lunar New Year in 2017 is January 28, and the animal represents this Lunar New Year is the Rooster.

In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is called Tet (Tết), and public holidays for Lunar New Year 2017 span from 26 January to 02 February (7 days). During these public holidays, most institutions, businesses and companies are closed so that people can spend time with their families. There are no fireworks this year in Hanoi or HCMC because the Government plans to use the budget to support families having suffered from the disastrous flood last year in central Vietnam.

There are, though, plenty of art and cultural offers for you to enjoy the best of Rooster’s Year in Vietnam.

EVENTS BEFORE TẾT:

1. Domino Art Fair in Hanoi and HCMC:

Hanoi: 20 – 25 Jan 2017
5th floor, Hanoi Creative City
—
HCMC: 20 – 25 Feb 2017
HCMC Fine Arts Museum

With more than 300 artworks priced from US$ 50 to US$ 3,000 by 160 talented artists coming from all over Vietnam, Domino Art Fair will undoubtedly sample some of the best (and affordable) Vietnamese arts for your collection.

2. Metropole Tet Market 2017:

19 – 21 Jan 2017, 4 – 8 pm
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

The three-day Cho Que (country market in Vietnamese) will see the legendary Metropole’s open-air courtyard transformed into a bustling Vietnamese “street” market. Some 20 vendors will be dressed in traditional garb, selling special Tet holiday foods and local handicrafts such as conical hats, colourful silks and woven baskets.

A special Tet menu, inspired by authentic Vietnamese family holiday recipes, will be served at Spices Garden from Jan. 16 to 27. For additional pricing and more information, please contact +84 (0) 4 38266919 or email [email protected].

3. Annual Tet Festival at Bookworm and Hanoi Cooking Centre:

Sun 22 Jan 2017, 1 – 5pm
Bookworm

Book lovers attention! “The best little book cafe in southeast Asia” is organizing its annual Tet Festival with Vietnamese traditional music emsemble, chưng cake demonstration and tasting, calligraphy, tò he and animal prints, free mulled-wine and sweet treats, and especially, 15% discount off ALL Bookworm’s books and stock!

SOME ROOSTER-THEMED ART EXHIBITIONS:

1. Group Exhibition “Spring 2017”:

Exhibition: 09 – 19 Jan 2017
Hanoi Studio Gallery
13 Trang Tien, Hanoi

Exhibition of rooster paintings by 13 Vietnamese artists, including such famous names as Thanh Chuong, Luu Chi Hieu, Thai Nhat Minh, etc.

2. Exhibition “Dậu Dome”:

Exhibition: 13 – 23 Jan 2017
1st floor lobby, Hang Da Galleria
1 Hang Da, Hanoi

The exhibition presents 60 artworks, including paintings (lacquer, acrylic, oil, pastel, ink on canvas, Dó paper, silk, collage), ceramic plates, and ceramic vases depicting the image of this year’s animal – the Rooster – by various artists such as Lê Thiết Cương, Nguyễn Quốc Thái, Đỗ Dũng, Nguyễn Quang Thiều, Tào Linh, Nguyễn Đình Vũ, etc.

3. Exhibition “Redrawing Folk Paintings”:

Exhibition: 13 – 25 Jan 2017
Nest by AIA
4th Floor, Tower B, Vincom Center 191 Ba Trieu, Hanoi

This is a unique art exhibition by talented young artist Nguyen Xuan Lam which presents the folk paintings in a very modern graphic style.

EVENTS IN TẾT AND AFTER:

1. New Year Calligraphy Festival

21 Jan – 11 Feb 2017, 8.30 am – 8 pm
Van Lake, Temple of Literature, Hanoi

In addition to the annual activities such as calligraphy performances, giving letters, calligraphy exhibition, you are invited to traditional villages which showcase products such as ceramic porcelain, weaving, paper, folk paintings, wood carvings, bronze casting, etc… There are specific areas for folk painting and games such as to he, oan quan, etc…

2. Vietnamese New Year in Hanoi Old Quarter

Exhibition: 19 Jan – 12 Feb 2017
Opening hours: 8 am – 12 pm, 2 – 5 pm
(Fri, Sat, Sun: 8 am – 12 pm, 2 – 5 pm, 7 – 10 pm)
Hanoi Old Quarter (see specific venues below)

• Kim Ngan communal house (42-44 Hang Bac Str.): Exhibition of the Hang Trong, Kim Hoang, Dong Ho folk paintings.
• Heritage House (87 Ma May Str.): Exhibition of photographs of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in the old days and an experience corner of how a typical traditional family in Hanoi prepares for Tet.
• The Old Quarter Information Center (28 Hang Buom Str.): calligraphy demonstration, exhibition of products from ‘Patterns of Dai Viet’.
• The Hanoi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Center (50, Dao Duy Tu Str.): Demonstration of pre-Tet preparation in an traditional house of the Northern Delta.

In additions, there are several traditional music performances in the Old Quarter:
• Time: 8 pm – 10 pm, 29 Jan – 01 Feb
• Venues:
– Kim Ngan communal house (42-44 Hang Bac Str.)
– Dong Lac communal house (38 Hang Dao Str.)
– Old Quarter Information Centre (28 Hang Buom Str.)
– Hội quán Phúc Kiến (40 Lan Ong Str.)

3. New Year Book Street

9 am – 9 pm, 30 Jan – 05 Feb 2017
Le Thach Str., Hoan Kiem Dist, Hanoi

• Book fair with diverse book genres
• Book launch events, book signing activities, book talks
• Traditional calligraphy
• Spring Poetry programme
• Traditional art performances
And many more

4. Lunar New Year Programme at Thăng Long Imperial Citadel

Exhibitions and galleries: 8 am – 5 pm, 20 – 25 Jan, 29 Jan – 28 Feb 2017 (except Monday)
Traditional cultural activities: 20 Jan, 30 Jan – 01 Feb, 05 Feb 2017
Thăng Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Site, 19C Hoang Dieu Str., Ba Đình Dist, Hanoi

Exhibitions and galleries

• Royal court costumes of Vietnam
• Traditional Lunar New Year paintings of Vietn
• Heritage photos of Vietn
• Bonsai and ornamental plants
• New archaeological excavations
• Đoan Môn Yard across different historical periods

Traditional cultural activities

• “Kitchen God” Ceremony (ông Công ông Táo): 20 Jan 2017
• Water puppet shows: 30 – 31 Jan and 01 Feb 2017; three shows a day, at 10 am, 2 pm and 4 pm
• Incense offering ceremony to welcome the new year: 05 Feb 2017.

The Heritage Site will be closed on 26 – 28 Jan 2017. Places for incense offering and praying will still be open. The site will be reopened for sightseeing from 29 Jan 2017.

Ticket price: VND 30,000/person/tour

5. Celebrating Year of the Rooster with Northwest Mountainous Culture of Son La:

04 and 05 Feb 2017, 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Nguyen Van Huyen, Cau Giay, Hanoi

During the very first weekend after Tet, the most exciting museum in Vietnam will bring to you an interesting traditional program through the activities of Thai, Hmong, Kho Mu ethnic minorities. It promises to be a weekend full of excites for families!

6. “Spring Celebrations Across the Country” 2017:

04 – 05 Feb 2017
Vietnam National Village For Ethnic Culture And Tourism
Dong Mo, Son Tay, Ha Noi

A huge traditional festival will take place 40 km away from bustling Hanoi center with the participation of 190 people from 16 ethnic communities. This might well be a fantastic getaway for families before heading back to busy working schedules after holidays.

We hope that you find our suggestions useful! Wishing you the last wonderful days of the Monkey’s year and a prosperous Rooster’s year ahead!