International visitors are enthusiastic about learning about Vietnam's traditional rituals.

On February 10th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, in coordination with the Hanoi People's Committee, organized the "Vietnam Discovery Day 2026: Traditional Royal Court Rituals 'Bidding Farewell to the Old, Welcoming the New'" program at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Center in Hanoi.

Báo Sài Gòn Giải phóng•10/02/2026

The rituals during the Lunar New Year used to take place in the ancient Thang Long royal court.

This year's event attracted over 300 domestic and international delegates, including members of the diplomatic corps from 45 representative offices, among them 27 ambassadors, chargés d'affaires, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Hanoi, along with numerous experts, researchers, and scientists.

Attendees had the opportunity to directly experience the rituals of the Lunar New Year that once took place in the ancient Thang Long imperial court, expressing wishes for national prosperity and peace and well-being for the people. These included: the Calendar Offering ceremony; the ceremony of worshipping the Kitchen God and releasing carp to send them to heaven; the ceremony of erecting the New Year's pole; the changing of the guard ceremony; and a tour of the Tet flower street.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van, Chairman of the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, emphasized that the program is the opening activity in a series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UNESCO relations (1976-2026), affirming Vietnam's role as an active and responsible member of the international community, always ready to contribute to common efforts for peace, dialogue, and sustainable development.

The Deputy Minister expressed his hope that through this program, international friends would not only have the opportunity to learn about traditional rituals and the cultural atmosphere of Tet in Vietnam, but also to experience a friendly, open, and culturally rich Vietnam – where tradition and modernity coexist, and culture becomes the foundation for cooperation and development.

At the event, Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, stated that UNESCO always highly values initiatives that allow heritage to be experienced vividly and made accessible to the public. He affirmed that the program is proof that intangible cultural heritage has, always has, and will continue to exist and develop, and will always be closely linked to modern urban life.

The Head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam also acknowledged the dedication and support of partners in creating cultural experiences for delegates attending the event, demonstrating effective and responsible cooperation between the public sector, cultural organizations, and private partners in Vietnam.

>>> Some photos from the Vietnam Discovery Day 2026 program: