The 2026 festival is expected to be safe, civilized, and economical. Photo: N.LINH
Many localities have proactively developed plans for organizing festivals, incorporating inspection and supervision right from the preparation stage, considering this a mandatory part of the organizational process, not an additional task. Increased inspection and supervision has become a continuous process before, during, and after Tet, instead of being a situational activity as in many previous festival seasons.
"Manage properly"
A notable new feature of this year's festival season is that localities are proactively designing inspection plans in a closed-loop process, covering the entire lifecycle of the festival, from preparation to post-conclusion summary.
Before Tet (Lunar New Year), inspection work was tightened right from the ground up. Local authorities focused on comprehensively reviewing the conditions for organizing festivals, spaces for religious and cultural activities, plans for managing crowds, as well as clearly assigning responsibilities among departments, agencies, and local governments.
Simultaneously, plans are being developed to ensure security and order, traffic safety, fire prevention, and strict implementation of Government Decree No. 110/2018/ND-CP on the management and organization of festivals, along with the set of criteria for a cultural environment in traditional festivals. This approach demonstrates a shift in thinking from "dealing with problems as they arise" to "risk prevention," thereby reducing pressure during peak periods and limiting systemic errors.
During Tet (Lunar New Year) and peak festival seasons, inspection activities are no longer limited to mere "observation and recording," but shift to substantive monitoring and rapid response. The focus of inspections is on the implementation of civilized conduct during festivals; promptly detecting and correcting manifestations of commercialization, superstition, and distortion of festivals; and strictly controlling service activities that capitalize on festivals.
In fact, at some major festivals such as the Le Thai To Temple, Huong Pagoda, Yen Tu, etc., there has been a clear transformation in spatial organization, visitor flow regulation, and information transparency, contributing to creating a solemn and orderly atmosphere while still ensuring convenience for locals and tourists.
After the Lunar New Year, the inspection process doesn't simply end with the idea that "the work is done once the festival is over." Maintaining supervision and summarizing the results after the festival is considered a mandatory step in management. Local authorities are required to report promptly and on schedule; clearly identify shortcomings and limitations in organization and management; and propose solutions for adjustments in subsequent festivals. This approach helps accumulate experience systematically in festival management, creating a foundation for improving organizational quality in the long term, instead of repeating the inadequacies identified in previous festival seasons.
Delegation of authority is linked to responsibility.
The delegation of authority to organize fireworks displays to the Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees, as stipulated in Government Decree 138/2025/ND-CP, is also an important test of modern festival management. In reality, when given more autonomy, many localities have considered the cultural, safety, and social effectiveness more carefully, avoiding a purely 형식적인 (formalistic) approach. The provinces and cities organizing fireworks displays during the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 demonstrate a great demand for cultural enjoyment among the people, but this is accompanied by higher demands for risk management and public accountability.
For traditional festivals, preserving and promoting their true value doesn't depend on scale or frequency, but rather on the level of genuine attention, coordination, and support from all relevant levels and sectors. Festivals can only be conducted solemnly, safely, economically, and effectively when placed within a unified management mechanism, where the responsibilities of each entity—from state management agencies and local authorities to organizing committees and the community—are clearly defined and implemented synchronously. Early, consistent, and responsible involvement from all levels of management is the foundation for festivals to maintain their sacred space, cultural norms, and social order, instead of being swept away by the pressure of large crowds and short-term gains.
In the context of digital transformation, the application of technology is becoming an essential requirement to enhance professionalism and efficiency in festival organization and management. From digitizing festival information, publicly disclosing organizational procedures, regulating crowd flow with smart tools, to monitoring service activities and providing real-time on-site reports, technology not only helps reduce the burden on the management system but also contributes to creating a more civilized, transparent, and friendly festival environment for locals and tourists. When applied appropriately, technology will support management without "coldening" the cultural space; on the contrary, it will help protect the core values of the festival from the risk of distortion.
Alongside management and technology, the role of media and journalism is particularly important. In addition to reporting on the attendance of festivals, media outlets need to delve into introducing the origins, history, cultural significance, and beliefs of the festivals, helping the public recognize their true value and behave appropriately within the festival space. Responsible, timely, and standardized media will contribute to shaping public opinion and create positive social pressure to combat negative behaviors such as pushing, shoving, fighting, exploiting festivals for illegal business, organizing disguised gambling, or profiting from spiritual practices.
Conversely, when the press participates in frankly and objectively reflecting on deviant behaviors in festivals, it also serves as an effective channel for social monitoring, forcing management to make timely adjustments. The harmonious combination of state management, technology application, and responsible communication will determine whether festivals are preserved as living cultural spaces or eroded into mere formalities, heavily commercialized, and prone to negative consequences.
Overall, the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse 2026 will not be filled with empty slogans of innovation, but rather with changes in approach: earlier management, more thorough inspections, and more serious evaluations. This signals a shift in the mindset regarding festival organization towards viewing festivals as cultural spaces requiring professional management, rather than merely seasonal activities.
The Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse 2026 shows that festivals are being viewed as a test of cultural management capacity, rather than just a seasonal religious activity. When proper management is in place, festivals can preserve their traditional values and become a safe, civilized, and sustainable cultural space for the community.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/khong-con-chuyen-den-hen-lai-lo-204104.html
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