Ethnic culture showcase to light up Hanoi this December

From December 1, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay Ward will transform into a vibrant tapestry of traditions, offering visitors an immersive journey into the festive early-spring customs of the country’s 54 ethnic groups.

Thai ethnic minority’s New Rice Festival is re-enacted at the The Vietnam National Villages for Ethnic Culture and Tourism. Photo: Huy Pham/ The Hanoi Times

The festival brings together over 100 artisans and community members representing 16 ethnic groups from 11 provinces, recreating the distinctive spaces, rituals and artistic expressions of each region. Visitors can expect a full calendar of performances, hands-on activities, and cultural exchanges that celebrate both the communal spirit and the artistic legacy of Vietnam’s diverse communities.

A special highlight this year is the focus on Co Tu culture, honoring the heritage of communities from the Truong Son mountain range and the Central Highlands. Central to the program is the re-enactment of the Pro ngooch ceremony, a unique Co Tu ritual that resolves village conflicts and strengthens community bonds.

Complementing this, the cultural exchange program “Echoes of the Great Forest” will feature traditional music, folk songs, and heritage dances, giving visitors an authentic glimpse into the artistic vibrancy of the Truong Son- Central Highlands peoples.

Culinary exploration forms another key part of the festival experience. Guests can sample Co Tu specialties such as bamboo-tube rice, grilled meats, buffalo-horn cakes, and traditional wine, while also exploring village architecture and participating in interactive activities such as gong playing, traditional dancing or crafting local artifacts.

At the end of November, ambassadors, chargé d’affaires, and leaders of international agencies and organizations visited the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, where they explored and experienced the rich traditions of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. Photo: VINACULTO

The Highland Market is set to be a must-see attraction, recreating the dynamic atmosphere of upland life with around 40 booths showcasing regional specialties, handicrafts, and folk performances. Visitors can enjoy dishes from Vietnam’s northwest, including five-color sticky rice, highland steamed rolls, and bamboo-tube rice (com lam). The festival’s Five-Color Sticky Rice Demonstration offers a fascinating, step-by-step insight into the dish’s preparation, from extracting natural plant dyes to steaming and arranging the rice, symbolizing the five elements and wishing prosperity for the new year.

Artisanal craftsmanship also takes center stage at the market, with weaving, embroidery, basketry, and instrument-making showcasing generations of inherited knowledge. Each craft reflects the stories and traditions of Vietnam’s ethnic communities, emphasizing the importance of preserving traditional occupations.

Festive performances further enrich the cultural tapestry. The folk music and dance showcase “Colors of the New-Year Market” evokes the joyous atmosphere of northern ethnic communities, while the Kho Mu praying-for-harvest ceremony from Son La Province offers a spiritual glimpse into gratitude rituals and prayers for favorable weather.

Throughout the month, visitors can immerse themselves in diverse cultural spaces within 16 ethnic village clusters, where daily and weekend activities recreate traditional life through ethnic architecture, cuisine, and folk games such as bamboo dancing, stilts walking, shuttlecock throwing and swinging.

The program also introduces educational experiences for children, with games like o an quan, bamboo puppets, jacks, and seesaws fostering creativity, engagement with nature, and cultural learning. Family-friendly activities such as statue painting, sand art, bamboo dragonflies, ethnic costume trials, and woodblock printing further enhance the interactive experience.

By bringing together diverse communities, traditions, and crafts under one roof, “Greeting the New Year 2026” not only honors the past but also inspires appreciation and curiosity for the country’s vibrant cultural future.

By Cam Anh

Nguồn: http://sodulich.hanoi.gov.vn/ethnic-culture-showcase-to-light-up-hanoi-this-december.html