When the New Year comes, when Vietnamese go on pilgrimages, they never forget to burn incense at home to commemorate ancestors, their original point and then go to pagoda at midnight on the 30th, the last day of lunar year or in the morning of the first day of the New Year. At midnight on the last day of the old year (giao thua), every family prepares a hearty tray and then burns incense to invite deity, God of the soil, ancestors and foreheads to gather with descendants. When the incense ends, everyone together gathers around the tray to eat and wish each other a happy new year. Children in the family will wish grandparents, parents and other adults and they are given lucky money in a red cover and good wishes to hope for a good new year. Then the whole family goes to the pagoda to pray for lucky things for the year and ask for offerings. If they cannot go to a pagoda at midnight of the last day of the old year, everyone can go in the early morning of the first day of the New Year. … [Read more...] about Go to pagoda on the Lunar New Year
Lunar new year food
Legend of Vietnam’s traditional dishes during the Lunar New Year
Hanoi Times - The sweet round rice cake or bánh chung and the square cake or bánh dày are among the traditional dishes served during Tet or Lunar New Year festival. It is often eaten with marinated stewed pork. Being unique to Vietnam, the cake has a legend in itself. Thousands and thousands of years ago, King Hung the VI has 24 sons. Some pursue literary careers. Others excel in martial arts. The youngest prince named Tiet Lieu, however, loves neither. He, his wife and their children instead lead an ordinary life in the countryside where they till the land. The king now happens to be old and considers selecting one of his sons as his successor. But choosing the right one seems easier said than done. Being a gourmet, the king formulates an interesting recipe for selection. One day, the king calls all of his sons together and tells them he will cede the throne to whoever makes the most special and unusual food. Almost immediately, the princes starts … [Read more...] about Legend of Vietnam’s traditional dishes during the Lunar New Year
Image: New agricultural products all the rage ahead of Lunar New Year
Vegetables grown in Da Lat using seeds imported mainly from Japan and the US and using high technology are becoming a big hit with customers for their quality and safety. They are all grown to VietGap standards using drip and spray irrigation and other techniques. Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper quoted Ngo Phuong Thao, director of Thom Food Company, as saying her company has received more than 200 orders for tomatoes and other vegetables. All information about the products, including variety and growing standards, is on the packaging, she added. Nguyen Cong Thua, general director of Anh Dao Co-operative, said more than 500 Tet gift hampers to be delivered by his co-operative on orders would have these vegetables. The new mini vegetables would make up 30 tonnes out of around 6,000 tonnes of agricultural products meeting VietGap standards his co-operative plans to supply to Co.op Mart for Tet, he said. Since they were still new to customers, they carried careful directions on the … [Read more...] about Image: New agricultural products all the rage ahead of Lunar New Year
OV in Hong Kong celebrate Lunar new year festival
The Vietnamese Consulate General Ms Nguyen Thi Nha, said most OV are aware of preserving their traditions and culture as well as looking toward the homeland and contributing to its development. Nha said she hopes they will continue to promote unity, assist each other and integrate well into local society, while maintaining their national cultural identity. She affirmed that protecting the OV community in the two Special Administrative Regions is an important task. So, the Consulate General will work with all relevant agencies to provide timely information and support around 3,000 overseas Vietnamese in the region, contributing to socio-economic development and the industrialization and modernization process of the homeland as well. On this occasion, on behalf of the Navy High Command of the Vietnam People's Army the Consulate General presented an insignia for Ms Tran Thi Ngoc Linh for her great contributions to protecting Vietnam's national sovereignty over islands and seas. In a very … [Read more...] about OV in Hong Kong celebrate Lunar new year festival
Three anti-corruption hotlines launched for lunar New Year 2016
The anti-corruption bureau under the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam is encouraging citizens to report instances of corruption via three hotlines before the Tet (Lunar New Year). The three hotlines are 080.48228, 0902.386.999 and 0125.698.6688. The bureau's head Pham Trong Dat will be in charge of the two latters, which will remain open 24x7, except for force majeure events. The bureau expected to receive more information about instances of corruption via the hotlines at this time of year, two months prior to the Lunar New Year, Dat said. Citizens can report instances of corruption that usually happen at the end of the year such as bribery in the form of Tetgifts, unauthorised use of State-owned vehicles and "highway bribery". The bureau officials will use the information and tackle corruption in accordance with the law and instruct citizens about further action, if necessary. The bureau will send official letters to other state-owned organisations to reinforce the … [Read more...] about Three anti-corruption hotlines launched for lunar New Year 2016