Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Year of the Horse Spring Festival: Honoring Vietnamese Identity and Strengthening International Friendship

On the evening of February 6, 2026 (corresponding to the 19th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Snake), at the Vietnam Cultural and Arts Exhibition Center (2 Hoa Lu Street, Hanoi), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism solemnly held the opening ceremony of the "Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse 2026". This is a typical cultural event to celebrate the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and to create a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere for the people to welcome the new year.

Attending the opening ceremony were Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong, representatives of leaders from central ministries and agencies, as well as ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic agencies from ASEAN countries, the Korean and Indian Cultural Centers in Vietnam... and a large number of people from Hanoi.

Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong speaks at the opening ceremony of the Binh Ngo 2026 Spring Festival. (Photo: Viet Hung)

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong emphasized: "The Spring Festival is an annual cultural activity with a strong traditional imprint, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for many years. Coming to the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse 2026, we not only encounter a festival with a familiar style, but also enter together a cultural space enriched by historical depth, national identity, and the aspiration for the country's progress in the new development phase."

This year's Spring Festival is being held in a very special context, as the entire Party, people, and army have just solemnly and successfully organized the 14th National Congress of the Party, opening a new term with long-term strategic orientations, strongly continuing the cause of innovation and rapid, sustainable development of the country.

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Organizing this year's Spring Festival is also a practical action to implement Resolution 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture. The promulgation of this Resolution is of great significance, continuing to affirm the Party's consistent viewpoint on cultural development, with people as the foundation, an important endogenous resource, a great driving force, a breakthrough, and a regulating system in the rapid and sustainable development of the country. Through cultural activities, the Spring Festival contributes to strongly spreading this spirit to all strata of the people.

Artists, delegates, and citizens joined hands in a circle dance symbolizing unity and community spirit, representing the aspiration for a prosperous and peaceful new year. (Photo: Viet Hung)

To officially inaugurate the festival, leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism performed the drum-beating ceremony. The resounding drumbeats, harmonizing with the vibrant sounds of the traditional orchestra, invited visitors to embark on a journey of heritage discovery. In that joyful atmosphere, delegates, along with artists and performers from the theater, joined in a circle dance of unity. The graceful movements not only symbolized community cohesion but also conveyed wishes for a peaceful and prosperous new spring.

Delegates visit the thematic exhibition space "Spring with the Party". (Photo: Viet Hung)

The highlight of this year's Spring Festival is the thematic exhibition "Spring with the Party". Featuring 120 valuable documentary images, the exhibition vividly portrays the glorious journey of the Communist Party of Vietnam from the Spring of 1930 to the milestone of the 14th National Congress. Through this, the public gains a deeper understanding of the Party's leadership role and the great achievements in the revolutionary cause, opening up a long-term strategic vision for the nation.

Beyond the political elements, the traditional Tet atmosphere is meticulously staged with the New Year's pole, red couplets, and the mascot of the Year of the Horse. The vibrant flower vendors, displaying peach blossoms, kumquats, apricot blossoms, and chrysanthemums, evoke memories of Tet of yesteryear, guiding every Vietnamese person back to their roots.

The Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse 2026 promises to be an unmissable destination for Hanoi residents and tourists to fully experience the flavors of Vietnamese Tet before the new spring. (Photo: Viet Hung)

This year's highlight is the fusion of tradition and modernity through the "Contemporary Interactive Creative Space," where heritage is continued through fresh artistic language, attracting a large number of young people.

This year's Spring Festival made a strong impression with its diverse range of experiential activities. The serene vegetarian culinary space, combined with the unique cultural identity of the Tay people from Thai Hai village, offered distinctive mountain flavors such as five-colored sticky rice and glutinous rice with wild berries. Here, visitors could not only enjoy the food but also participate in making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), Tet jam, clay figurines, or calligraphy – activities that are the soul of the traditional Tet holiday.

Traditional activities such as calligraphy and clay figurine making attract a large number of visitors. (Photo: Viet Hung)

In particular, the international exchange element was enhanced through the participation of partners from South Korea and India. From kimchi-making experiences to artistic performances such as "Springtime Horse" and "Springtime Dance," the event truly became a space for cultural dialogue, strengthening understanding and solidarity between Vietnam and international friends.

The Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse 2026 will continue to welcome visitors until February 9th, 2026 (the 22nd day of the 12th lunar month). This promises to be an unmissable destination for Hanoi residents and tourists to fully experience the Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) atmosphere before the new spring./.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/khai-mac-hoi-xuan-binh-ngo-2026-ton-vinh-ban-sac-viet-va-gan-ket-tinh-huu-nghi-quoc-te-2026020707423178.htm