Ho Chi Minh City: A lively Lantern Festival celebration.

The Lantern Festival - Celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 attracted a large crowd with a parade of over 1,200 performers, 5 floats, and many dazzling lion and dragon dance troupes.

On the evening of March 3rd (the 15th day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse), at the An Dong Ward Public Service Center, the Ho Chi Minh City Organizing Committee for major holidays held the Lantern Festival - Celebrating the Spring of the Year of the Horse 2026 with the theme "Lantern Festival Day," attracting a large number of people to attend.

The event was directed by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Tourism, in collaboration with the Bong Sen National Folk Music and Dance Theatre.

Attending the event were Mr. Le Quoc Phong, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee; Mr. Duong Anh Duc, Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee; Ms. Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee...

The Lantern Festival (the 15th day of the first lunar month) has long been a cultural event with special significance in the spiritual life of East Asian communities, marking the end of the Lunar New Year and the beginning of the new year's festivities.

Many outstanding artistic performances were featured at the event. Photo: HAI NHI

In southern urban areas, where Vietnamese and Chinese communities have lived together for generations, the Lantern Festival has become a shared cultural activity, reflecting the enduring interaction and adaptation between these communities.

Ms. Tran Thi Dieu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, beat the drum to inaugurate the festival. Photo: HAI NHI

In her opening remarks, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, Chairwoman of the An Dong Ward People's Committee, stated that throughout its formation and development, the Lantern Festival not only fulfills religious needs but also reflects a connection to one's roots.

The festival also becomes a unique cultural space, contributing to enriching urban life and strengthening community bonds.

The artistic performances at the event were elaborately staged. Photo: HAI NHI

According to Ms. Phuong, in 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized "Social customs and beliefs of the Lantern Festival of the Chinese community in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City" as a national intangible cultural heritage.

This registration helps affirm the historical and humanistic value of the festival, while also creating a basis for its preservation and promotion in contemporary life.

The Lantern Festival - Celebrating the Lunar New Year 2026 (Year of the Horse) opened with an elaborately staged artistic program, consisting of two consecutive parts with a continuous emotional flow.

With the theme "Flow of Memories - Origins - Springtime Sentiments," Part I transported the audience back to a lyrical and profound space through performances such as "Red Dust," "The Man from Chaozhou," "Last Words of Love," and "Homeland Tet"...

A large number of people participated in the festival. Photo: HAI NHI

The combination of Chinese music and Vietnamese lyrics, along with graceful dance choreography, vividly portrays the profound cultural exchange between Vietnam and China in Southern urban life.

Following this is Part II, themed "Spring Festival Spirit - A New Beginning of Hope," opening with a vibrant and bright atmosphere featuring performances like "Enjoying Tet," "The God of Wealth Arrives," and concluding with "The Soul of the Drum." These lively and energetic melodies convey hopes for a prosperous and fulfilling new year.

The highlight of the evening was the artistic parade featuring over 1,200 performers, 5 floats, and numerous lion and dragon dance troupes.

With the theme "Four Sacred Animals Celebrate - Blessings, Prosperity, and Well-being," the parade brought together the images of the Dragon,麒麟 (Kirin), Turtle, and Phoenix, along with many performances of lion dance, dragon dance, Teochew folk songs, ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) shows, circus acts, wushu, and health exercises… creating a vibrant and colorful festival atmosphere along the streets of the Cholon area.

Source: https://ttbc-hcm.gov.vn/tp-hcm-ron-rang-dem-hoi-nguyen-tieu-1020772.html