For most Vietnamese, Tet (Lunar New Year) festival has actually begun with the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) ceremony on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year, which falls on February 8 this year.
For most Vietnamese, Tet (Lunar New Year festival) has actually begun with the "Ong Cong - Ong Tao🌠" (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) ceremony on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year. (Photo: vnexpress.net)
Hanoi (VNA) - For most Vietnamese, Tet (Lunar New Year) festivalhas actually begun with the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods)ceremony on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year, which falls on February8 this year.
On this day, every family is busy staging a farewell ceremony for the LandGenie and the Kitchen Gods on their yearly visit of Heaven.
The Kitchen Gods, the guardian spirit of the kitchen, are believed to comprisetwo male gods and one female, who bless the household and keep up the kitchenfire, making every member of the family happy and well-off.
As the legend goes, the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods will ride carps toHeaven on the day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities tothe God of Heaven.
As the gods make their journey on the back of fish, it is traditional torelease live carps into lakes or rivers, which is considered a kindhearted deedto pray for good luck.
On that day, people also burn paper clothing, including hats, robes and boots,intended for use by the genies on the trip beyond.
After the Kitchen Gods go to Heaven, families begin tidying and decoratingtheir houses to usher in the New Year as they believe that a clean houserepresents a fresh star.
On New Year's Eve, both genies will return to earth and resume their caretakingduties in the kitchen of the house.
Although residents in each region across the country pay their homage to OngCong and Ong Tao in slightly different ways, the gods remain important figuresin the rich texture of Vietnamese New Year.
The fire in the kitchen is the symbol of not only warm family union, but also abumper harvest and agricultural development of Vietnamese people. The custom ofworshipping the Kitchen Gods reflects Vietnamese’s respect of familyhappiness.-VNA
The traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) is the biggest and oldest festival in Vietnam, bringing its people together to celebrate the sacred and meaningful annual event.
A wide range of cultural activities to reveal the depth of traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations will take place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel from January 24. The programmes for children will run until January 27.
Hanoi people are busy staging a farewell ceremony for the “Ong Cong - Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year, which falls on February 8.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The event served as a vibrant display of solidarity, promoting peace, cooperation, and development through cultural dialogue, and reaffirmed HCM City's role as a dynamic hub for cultural diplomacy and international friendship.
The Indian Film Festival not only honours the artistic value of cinema but also contributes to strengthening the friendship and enhancing cultural exchange between the people of Son La in particular and Vietnam in general and India.
An art exchange programme between Vietnam and Cambodia was held on the evening of June 13 in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long as part of the 2025 Cambodia Culture Week in Vietnam.
Digitalisation does not mean commercialisation or oversimplification of culture. It is a way of selecting, adapting, and spreading traditional values through a modern language.
For most Vietnamese, Tet (Lunar New Year festival) has actually begun with the "Ong Cong - Ong Tao🌠" (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) ceremony on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year. (Photo: vnexpress.net) 
