The city is bustling as it welcomes the new year.

(VLO) Vinh Long has just experienced the Lunar New Year with many meaningful activities. As a political , economic, cultural, and social center, the city also organized many activities to celebrate the Spring Festival and welcome the New Year. This created a joyful and exciting atmosphere for entering the new year.

The city is beautifully decorated to welcome spring.

Many activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Releasing floating lanterns is one of the new activities that brings beautiful and impressive experiences and images to this year's Lunar New Year. On the evening of the 29th of the Lunar month (January 28th), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Provincial Youth Union and the Department of Education and Training, organized the "Lantern Night - Colors of Youth," which took place along the embankment from Lo Bridge to Cai Ca Bridge ( Vinh Long City); and Cai Von Nho Bridge, Nguyen Van Thanh Street (Cai Von Ward, Binh Minh Town).

According to our observations in Vinh Long City on the night of the 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year), along the stretch from Cai Ca Bridge to Lo Bridge, a large number of people came to watch and personally release beautiful floating lanterns, praying for a peaceful, happy, and lucky new year.

While lighting lanterns and releasing floating lanterns with her daughter, and not forgetting to ask acquaintances to take pictures of the lantern-releasing moment as a keepsake, Ms. Le Hong Ly, from Ward 4, shared: "With each floating lantern in my hand, I send my prayers, hoping for a peaceful and prosperous new year for my family and everyone."

In Vinh Long City, a large number of people came to watch and release floating lanterns on the night of the 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year).

According to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Quyen Thanh, over the past year, thanks to the efforts of the entire Party and army, and especially the unity and cooperation of each individual and family, Vinh Long province has achieved new successes.

The province organized many activities to help people celebrate the Lunar New Year in a joyful and warm atmosphere, concluding a year of hard work and welcoming the new year with hope for better things to come.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee added that, according to folk beliefs, releasing floating lanterns is an activity aimed at honoring the spiritual and religious values ​​of Vietnamese people on major holidays, especially at the beginning of the new year.

This activity is meant to be a prayer for national peace and prosperity; a prayer for every family to be well-fed and happy; and a prayer for everyone to always be lucky and successful in life.

Hopefully, this activity will bring more meaningful moments to locals and tourists, with the shimmering light of lanterns carrying wishes and hopes for good things in the new year; help people get closer together; unite to build warm and happy families; and make our homeland increasingly prosperous and beautiful.

In particular, to celebrate the new year, Vinh Long province organized many cultural and artistic activities, hoping to bring a joyful spring to the people. Following the direction of the Provincial Organizing Committee for major holidays, Vinh Long Radio and Television Station organized a special art program celebrating the Party and the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025 on the night of the 29th of the Lunar month.

Proud melodies, lively spring songs, cheerful comedy, and meaningful New Year's wishes filled the air. Especially noteworthy was the spectacular fireworks display following the cultural performance.

Brilliant fireworks bursting across the sky captivated the attention and excitement of the people, blending with the music and the colors of the fireworks to create a vibrant and joyful atmosphere. Many young people took the opportunity to capture this first beautiful moment of the new year.

In Tra On town, on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake 2025, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the People's Committee of Tra On district, organized a ceremony commemorating the 205th anniversary of the death of General Nguyen Van Ton (1820-2025), at the Tra On Mausoleum - a national intangible cultural heritage (Giong Thanh Bach hamlet).

Within the framework of the commemoration ceremony, many cultural, artistic, and sporting activities took place: performances of Khmer five-tone music, lion and dragon dances, performances of ceremonial music of the three ethnic groups Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer, and cultural performances celebrating the Party and the Spring Festival... These activities, held over two days, the 3rd and 4th of January each year, attracted a large number of people from the Tra On area and tourists from all over to celebrate the Spring Festival and Tet.

Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung, a teacher at Vinh Xuan Kindergarten (Tra On district), who participated in the traditional cake-making competition at the Lang Ong Festival, said: "This is my first year participating in a cooking competition, and I feel very happy."

The team prepared dishes, some decorated with a map of Vietnam, to express national unity and commemorate the contributions of their ancestors. They hoped to send a message to young people to always remember their roots and show gratitude to their forefathers, especially those from their hometown of Tra On.

Joyfully entering the new year.

Along with preparing programs and activities to celebrate the New Year, cities have intensified their efforts to beautify and decorate with colorful flags and flowers to create an atmosphere of excitement, joy, and renewed spirit for the Year of the Snake.

"Following the footsteps of Tet" from the last days of the twelfth lunar month, we felt the excitement and joy permeating every street and corner. The inner city streets of Vinh Long City, Binh Minh Town, and other towns were adorned with flags and flowers.

People eagerly watched the cultural performances and fireworks on New Year's Eve.

Every household welcomes the New Year with beautifully arranged yellow apricot blossoms, marigolds, and chrysanthemums. Entrance gates and small alleyways are also decorated with vibrant colors and eye-catching displays, accompanied by greetings and couplets celebrating the Party, the Spring Festival, and the country's renewal…

According to the Department of Construction, the province currently has 8 urban areas. Over the past period, thanks to the guidance and support of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, the coordination of various departments and agencies, and the close management of local authorities, the appearance and technical infrastructure of these urban areas have gradually changed with many positive developments, progressing in accordance with construction plans. Urban areas are becoming increasingly beautiful and modern. Key projects and works have been implemented according to approved plans, with housing development linked to urban development planning.

In 2024, the department focused on implementing tasks assigned by the Ministry of Construction and the Provincial People's Committee; it issued a plan outlining key tasks for 2024, specifying major, priority tasks. Accordingly, it completed and exceeded the set targets, specifically: the percentage of households using clean water from the centralized water supply system in the urban area reached 99.3%; and the average housing area was 28.9 m² floor space per person.

In 2025, the provincial construction sector has set forth key tasks and solutions, focusing on supporting Vinh Long City, Binh Minh Town, and other localities in establishing architectural management regulations; supporting the People's Committee of Tra On District in developing a plan for recognizing it as a Type IV urban area, and Phu Quoi District in developing a plan for recognizing it as a Type V urban area.

In addition, the province will urge and monitor localities to improve the percentage of households using clean water from the centralized water supply system in the urban area to reach 99.4% and the average housing area to reach 30m² floor space per person.

At the same time, coordinate with investors and local People's Committees to resolve difficulties in slow-progressing public investment projects so that works and projects can be implemented and completed on schedule, contributing to accelerating the disbursement of public investment capital and creating momentum to promote growth.

Text and photos: TAN ANH - TUYET HIEN

Source: https://baovinhlong.vn/thoi-su/202502/do-thi-ron-rang-buoc-vao-nam-moi-b74745b/