{"id":2494,"date":"2020-06-15T14:53:08","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T06:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=2494"},"modified":"2020-09-14T22:39:19","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:39:19","slug":"saigon-lantern-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/saigon-lantern-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Cho Lon\u2019s Lantern Festival, T\u1ebft Nguy\u00ean Ti\u00eau, Will Resume In July After Postponement Due To COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saigon’s Lantern Festival will resume in July<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Colorful parades, upbeat lion dances, and Chinese musicals <\/strong>are the impressions we have about The Lantern Festival (<\/strong>\u5143\u5bb5\u7bc0)<\/strong>, or T\u1ebft Nguy\u00ean Ti\u00eau<\/em> in Vietnam. The festival usually takes place on the 15th day of the lunar month, immediately following the Lunar New Year.<\/p>\n

Widely celebrated among the Chinese communities in Vietnam, especially in Saigon\u2019s Cho Lon area.<\/p>\n

The festival had been indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. <\/a>But thankfully, the seemingly indefinite wait is over as the festival is soon making a comeback. On 9th June, SGGP<\/a> reported that The Lantern Festival will officially resume on 5th July<\/strong> this year.<\/p>\n

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The Lantern Festival will be scaled down this year<\/span><\/h3>\n
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This year\u2019s Lantern Festival festivities will be held in smaller segments and in only one day, instead of multiple days as before. On this day, the festival\u2019s recognition as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage<\/strong> by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in February this year will be commemorated in the morning.<\/p>\n

Parades and festivities will commence at 4.30PM on the same day in District 5, and all are welcome.<\/p>\n

\"Tet
\nImage credit: <\/em>T\u1ebft Nguy\u00ean Ti\u00eau Ng\u01b0\u1eddi Hoa \u1edf S\u00e0i G\u00f2n 2018<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Visitors can treat their eyes to the exciting parade<\/strong> featuring about 700 participants clad in traditional Chinese costumes, representing different Chinese ethnic groups and famous folktale figures.<\/p>\n

\"Tet
\nImage credit: <\/em>@tanbinh115<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Performing in the parade are lion dancers, as well as joyous performances demonstrating the richness of Chinese culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"lion
\nImage adapted from: <\/em>@tonytengteng<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

The parade route, predicted to be the same as that in previous years,<\/strong> will most likely trail across Hai Thuong Lan Ong, Chau Van Liem, Nguyen Trai, The Great World area, and Tran Hung Dao street in District 5.<\/p>\n

\"Tet
\nImage adapted from: <\/em>@tonytengteng<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

In the Cultural Center<\/a> of District 5<\/a>, other festivities celebrating Chinese culture such as opera performances<\/strong> in different Chinese dialects and calligraphy exhibitions will also be held.<\/p>\n

\"Tet
\nPeople lining the streets to watch the parade
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>@vodongphong<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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The meaning of the Lantern Festival in Vietnam<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Not only is the Lantern Festival widely celebrated in China or Taiwan, but it\u2019s also popular among Chinese-speaking communities outside China<\/strong>, including those in Vietnam. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the first appearance of a full moon in the lunar year.<\/p>\n

\"District
\nNghia An pagoda in District 5 lit with lanterns
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>@d.c.khang <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

As a tradition of the festival, people usually eat ch\u00e8 tr\u00f4i n\u01b0\u1edbc<\/em><\/strong>, Chinese rice balls that symbolize the shape of the full moon, and view lanterns<\/strong>. For Saigon residents, watching parades during the day <\/strong>and going to lantern-lit pagodas<\/strong> at night are unskippable parts of the celebration.<\/p>\n

\"Tet
\nCh\u00e8 tr\u00f4i n\u01b0\u1edbc
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>@vancoco <\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Musical performances<\/strong> at Chinese communal houses, cultural centers, and shopping malls are another way to enjoy the festival at night.<\/p>\n

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Celebrate Chinese culture in Saigon<\/span><\/h3>\n
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One of Saigon\u2019s oldest and most well-preserved areas, Cho Lon has a wealth of history <\/strong>and fascinating ways of life<\/strong> that make it Saigon\u2019s largest living museum. From age-old pagodas to unique cuisines, the Chinese communities in Saigon have played a significant role in adding to the diversity of the city\u2019s <\/strong>cultures.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even though this year\u2019s Lantern Festival won\u2019t be held in its usual extravagant style, we\u2019re glad that the festival, which has brought the community together for a long time, is still celebrated.<\/p>\n

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