In the area behind the Thai Hoa Palace - Hue Imperial Citadel, traditional court games played by the Nguyen dynasty during Tet (Lunar New Year), such as: "dau ho" (a type of dice game), "bai vu" (a card game), "xam huong" (a dice game), "tha tho" (a poetry game), calligraphy, etc., are recreated by the Hue Imperial Citadel Relics Conservation Center for the enjoyment of locals and tourists visiting the area.

Thanks to the favorable weather, the games attracted a large number of participants. And the radiant smiles were a meaningful gift exchanged at the beginning of the new year, wishing each other all the best and good fortune.

Here are some images showcasing the traditional court games played on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Horse 2026:

Poetry Recitation - a place to showcase knowledge of classical poetry and literature.
Spinning top - a form of gambling where you bet on the animals printed on the surface of a spinning top.
Eagerly awaiting the "opening..."
"Do xam huong" - a dice-rolling game where players compete for cards representing academic titles from the old examination system, such as: First-place winner (Trang Nguyen), Second-place winner (Bang Nhan), Third-place winner (Tham Hoa), and Bachelor (Tu Tai)...
Lake Head - a simple game, but very difficult to win.
Asking for auspicious calligraphy at the beginning of the year.
The seal serves to confirm copyright and is the final step in completing a calligraphy piece.
Besides traditional court games, many artistic activities also take place within the Hue Imperial Citadel.
...or the "picking lucky branches" ritual at the beginning of the year attracts many tourists to experience it.

HAN DANG

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/hao-huc-voi-tro-xua-tich-cu-chon-cung-dinh-163026.html