VietNamNet Bridge – As the Lunar New Year begins, spring festivals countrywide are in full swing.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Despite his old age, Trinh Van Binh is graceful in controlling the dragon head leading his troupe in the tu linh (four sacred mythical creatures: dragon, kylin, phoenix and tortoise) dance.

Three major spring festivals – the Mother Au Co Temple Festival, the Tinh Dien (Ploughing) Festival and the Vieng Market Festival – began on Fiday, as part of the festive season in the north of Vietnam.

Spring is considered the season of festivals for ethnic minority people, and each ethnic group has their own festivals reflecting their customs, beliefs and farming practice. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Spring festivals represent the traditional beauty of Vietnam, but instead of bringing good things for the community, they are becoming a burden on local governments and the tourism industry. Why?

 January and February are the most exciting months of the year in Vietnam with a variety of festivals organized throughout the nation on the occasion paying homage to Buddha, ancestors and praying for good fortune.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The crowd quickly shaped into a circle in the front yard of the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology as drumbeats resounded and amateur artisans put down heaps of clay.