Opening of Tet Nguyen Tieu 2023

On the morning of February 2 (January 12, the year of the Cat), Nghia An Assembly Hall opened the Lantern Festival with a parade welcoming Quan Thanh to tour the streets of District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.

The palanquin of Quan Thanh in the space of Nghia An Assembly Hall - Photo: LAM DIEN

This is a special activity held for the first time since 1975, and is one of the unique traditional festival programs during the Lantern Festival of the Chinese people of the Teochew language group in District 5.

In the past, Chinese people often had the custom of taking the Lady on a trip, but rarely took the Man on this occasion.

Early in the morning, leaders of District 5, representatives of Chinese guilds, parade groups and a large number of people came to Nghia An guild to participate in the ceremony of welcoming Quan Thanh on his tour.

After the solemn ceremony at the guild hall, the parade gathered more than 300 people in elaborate costumes, creating a unique festival atmosphere.

He was carried through the streets of Tan Da, Tran Hung Dao, Chau Van Liem, Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Do Ngoc Thanh, Hong Bang, Lao Tu, Luong Nhu Hoc, and returned to Nghia An Assembly Hall on Nguyen Trai.

Following this special activity, the 2023 Lantern Festival will continue to take place with a series of parades, opera performances, lion and dragon dances... on February 4 and 5 (January 14 and 15) at Van Lang Park, District 5 Cultural Center and all Chinese assembly halls in Ho Chi Minh City.

There is a saying: "New Year's Eve goes to District 1, Lantern Festival goes to District 5", for Chinese people in Saigon, Tet still lasts with many traditional festivals that cannot be missed.

The Nguyen Tieu Festival in District 5 has also been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, demonstrating the preservation and promotion of good cultural values ​​of the Chinese ethnic group in District 5 in particular and Ho Chi Minh City in general.

Highlights of the 2023 Lantern Festival

- Vietnamese Poetry Night (7pm on February 4 at Van Lang Park); street art parade with mass art troupes, lion and dragon dances (from 4:30pm to 9:30pm on February 5 on some central streets of District 5).

- Lantern Festival (from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on February 5 at District 5 Cultural Center); Dimsum Food Week (from February 1 to 7 at District 5 Cultural Center).

- Drama and lion dance performances at Binh Tay market, district 6 and District 11 Cultural Center (from February 2 to 5)...

Some pictures at the ceremony welcoming Quan Thanh on his tour at Nghia An Assembly Hall:

The ritual of preparing to bring Quan Thanh's palanquin to the gate of Nghia An Assembly Hall for departure - Photo: LAM DIEN

In the past, Chinese people often had the custom of taking the Lady on a trip, but rarely taking the Man on this occasion - Photo: LAM DIEN

Preparing to bring Quan Thanh's palanquin to the gate of Nghia An Assembly Hall for departure - Photo: LAM DIEN

Representatives of Chinese guilds gathered at Nghia An Assembly Hall - Photo: LAM DIEN

The "Welcoming the Saint" procession is one of the unique traditional festival programs of the Chinese people of the Teochew language group in District 5 - Photo: LAM DIEN

The ritual of preparing to bring Quan Thanh's palanquin to the gate of Nghia An Assembly Hall for departure - Photo: LAM DIEN

He was carried through the streets of Tan Da, Tran Hung Dao, Chau Van Liem, Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Do Ngoc Thanh, Hong Bang, Lao Tu, Luong Nhu Hoc before returning to Nghia An Assembly Hall on Nguyen Trai - Photo: LAM DIEN

(TTO)