VIETNAM FESTIVAL AND EVENT TRAVEL GUIDES
Traditional festivals are considered the traditional cultural activities of all countries, including the Vietnamese people. They involve all social classes, urban and rural alike, and have become a necessary part of people's lives for many centuries.
As in other countries, in the context of an agricultural economy, traditional festivals of the Viêtnamese people are usually linked to the cycle of crops.
In the of northern plains Vietnam, where two crops are gathered in a year, spring (early February to March) and autumn (August and September) are periods when paddy plants have already been transplanted and the farmers are waiting for growing weather to do its work. The traditional festivals held in spring and autumn reflect the peasants' hope for a bumper crop and prosperity. Festivals have a cyclical calendar which is seasonal in character. Nowadays festivals is mainly in the spring time as life style has changed. People don't tend to have long holidays and festival as they did in the past and the rest time between the 02 crops are shorter than before, hence autumn festivals are not held as often as in the past.
Festivals are a time to enjoy and learn about the people's unique crafts and skills. From the puppet shows of the Thay Pagoda Festival (Ha Tay) to the 'Xoan' folk songs of the Hung Temple Festival (Phu Tho) or the Phu Giay Festival 'Chau Van' folk songs as does the Lim Festival with its 'Quan Ho' folk songs. The drum beats used with traditional musical songs and dances create a driving energy during the festivals.
TRAVEL GUIDES TO VIETNAM'S PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN 2007
January
01
International New Year's Day
February
17,18,19 - 2
Lunar New Year (Tet)
April
30
Reunification Day
May
01
Labor Day
September
02
National Day
VIETNAM FESTIVAL TRAVEL GUIDE PHOTOS
Incense Offering Ceremony - Lunar New Year at the Temple of Literature
New Year Wishes at Vietnam Buddhist Association Pagoda
