The Tuy Loan Village Communal House Festival took place on February 6 and 7 (the 9^th and 10^th days of the 1^st lunar month) in Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang, featuring many solemn traditional festive activities and exciting folk games.

A dancing performance to mark the opening ceremony of the Tuy Loan Village Communal House Festival.

Mr. Dang Xuan Thanh, Vice Chairman of Hoa Phong Commune People's Committee, said that the Tuy Loan Village Communal House Festival is held annually to contribute to preserving folk culture and intangible cultural heritage. This year’s event saw a large number of people participating.

A ceremony to release doves to pray for national peace and prosperity

Along with solemn traditional festive activities, a number of exciting folk games were organised such as traditional boat race and ‘bai choi’ performances, thereby enriching the festival. In particular, The organising board of the festival invited many people from far away to attend the event and raise fund to contribute to the restoration of the relics in the commune.

A large number of people attended the festival.

The procession of royal decree and relic recognition certificate, and the ceremony to release flower-shaped lanterns on the Tuy Loan River took place on February 6 afternoon.

At the Tuy Loan village communal house yard, there were art programmes and attractive folk games such as chess competition, playing mandarin squares, flying boats, climbing banana trees, smashing pots, tug of war and human chess competition.

The festival officially opened on the morning of February 7, with the solemn traditional festive activities. In addition, there were a traditional boat race on the Tuy Loan River, a culinary programme of Tuy Loan Quang noodles, and rice paper baking and ‘banh tet’ wrapping competitions. The annual festival aims to create a joyful and exciting atmosphere for people and tourists in the first days of the new lunar year.

Representatives of the clans in the village prepared to offer incense at the village communal house.

Mr. Dang Nga, Head of the Village Festival Committee, shared “The festival taking place in the first lunar month not only creates conditions for locals and tourists to celebrate Tet, but also helps people working far away have the opportunity to visit relatives and offer incense to commemorate their ancestors. Nowadays, society is increasingly developing, through the festival, we hope that our descendants will always know how to appreciate and preserve the culture of Tuy Loan village communal house in particular and the national culture in general”.

Participants at the 'banh tet' wrapping contest

A rice paper grilling contest

A traditional boat race on the Tuy Loan River

Reporting by DOAN LUONG, QUOC CUONG - Translating by M.DUNG, V.DUNG