On the 2017 Tet occasion, the locals and tourists in Nha Trang City experienced the lively festive atmosphere of the first days of Lunar New Year. Unicorn-lion-dragon dance, "bài chòi" (Vietnam's traditional art form) festival, antique fair, "đờn ca tài tử" (traditional improvisational chamber music) performance, and live videoconference themed about the Spratly Islands were among the highlights of cultural activities held during Lunar New Year 2017 in the beach city.
On the 2017 Tet occasion, the locals and tourists in Nha Trang City experienced the lively festive atmosphere of the first days of Lunar New Year. Unicorn-lion-dragon dance, “bài chòi” (Vietnam’s traditional art form) festival, antique fair, “đờn ca tài tử” (traditional improvisational chamber music) performance, and live videoconference themed about the Spratly Islands were among the highlights of cultural activities held during Lunar New Year 2017 in the beach city.
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“Bài chòi” festival, held by Khanh Hoa Provincial Cultural Center at 2-4 Square (Nha Trang) from January 28 to February 11 (lunar January 1-15), have represented a part of cultural life of the people in the South Central of Vietnam. Many people visited and played “bài chòi” as well as attended other cultural activities. “There have been more and more cultural activities organized in Tet days. I’m glad that many traditional cultural activities have been restored,” said Nguyen Thi Huong (Xuong Huan Ward, Nha Trang City).
Visiting the provincial Museum during the first days of Lunar New Year 2017, visitors could learn about the typical cultural characteristics of two ethnic communities in Khanh Hoa, Raglai and Cham people, through the displayed objects such as traditional musical instruments, architecture, farming practices, and festivals. Additionally, an exhibition featuring images on how Tet holidays are celebrated in the past and at the present helped the viewers to have a general view of Tet custom in Vietnam.
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| Antique fair |
This year’s antique fair of Nha Trang Antique Club, which opened at the provincial Museum on February 1 (lunar January 5), was attended by more antiquity collectors and visitors than the previous years. Beside the familiar antiquities like radios, typewriters, bicycles, clocks, and thermoses, etc., the 2017 antique fair also included antique paper money, unusual lighters, and old books. Many visitors showed interest when seeing collections of vintage paper money such as French Indochina banknotes (before 1945) and Vietnam banknotes over periods of time. Dao Hoa, Head of Nha Trang Antique Club said “We organize this antique fair in the hope that the fair will become a cultural characteristic of Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa like Vieng market in the North.”
The 2-4 Square is often a cultural rendezvous in Nha Trang on Lunar New Year occasion. On New Year’s Eve (January 27), Hai Dang Song and Dance Troop, provincial Traditional Arts Theatre and provincial Cultural Center organized a musical program to celebrate New Year 2017. Many joyful and lively performances about the spring created a boisterous atmosphere at the square.
Especially, a live videoconference themed “Towards Spratly Islands” was organized at 2-4 Square on January 24 by Khanh Hoa Radio-Television Station (KTV), Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the High Command of Naval Region 4 and Spratly Island District People’s Committee. The videoconference reflected the developments of Spratly Island District as well as affirmed the sovereignty of Vietnam over the islands. The indirect meetings between husband and wife, father and children warmed the hearts of people who were present at the videoconference.
Xuan Thanh
Translated by H.N
