Culture - Sports

On February 24 of Lunar Calendar (January 15), Chau Thanh district, Long An province held the Opening Ceremony of 2024 Lam Chay Festival.

Lam Chay Festival began to be held around the end of the 19th century to worship martyrs who died in the patriotic movement against the French, to pray for spirits and demons so that they do not harm people.

Midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc of The Cong Viettel FC has won the Golden Ball award for the second time while goal keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh of Ho Chi Minh City FC 1 picked up the title in the women’s category.

Vietnam drop 11 spots to the 105th in FIFA February global ranking following their poor performance at the recent AFC Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar, according to the Vietnam Football Federation.

The Huong Pagoda Festival, the longest of its kind in Vietnam, began in Huong Son commune in Hanoi’s outlying district of My Duc on February 15 (the 6th day of the first lunar month), welcoming 30,000 visitors.

Giving away lucky money is a traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) custom through which Vietnamese people exchange the best wishes with one another, hoping for a year of peace and good luck.

The Huong Pagoda Festival, the longest of its kind in Vietnam, is set to open in Huong Son commune, Hanoi’s outlying district of My Duc, on February 11 (the second day of the lunar new year) and last until May 1.

“Tat nien” is a traditional practice of Vietnamese people in the last day of a lunar year, during which Vietnamese families gather for a meal, look back on the past year and get themselves ready for a new year.

Markets form a unique feature of every rural area whenever the Lunar New Year (Tet) approaches as they carry traditional cultural values and are deeply imbued with the soul of the Vietnamese countryside.

Arranging a five-fruit tray during the Lunar New Year celebration is a long-standing tradition in Vietnam.

The “Ong Cong, Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) worshipping ritual, held on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, which falls on February 2 this year, is also considered the start of the Lunar New Year.

Vietnam bid farewell to the AFC Asian Cup 2023 with a 2-3 defeat to Iraq after conceding in the last minute of the game.