Around 500 people will join hands to make 'banh chung' (square glutinous rice cakes) for the poor to welcome Tet (Lunar New Year) on January 30-31 at the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups Culture-Tourism Village in Son Tay district, Hanoi.

Around 500 people will make thousands of ‘banh chung’ for the poor. (Credit: VNA)

The participants include Buddhists from Phap Van and Khai Nguyen pagodas in Hoang Mai and Son Tay districts, respectively, as well as young people from Son Tay town and surrounding communes (including Co Dong, Yen Binh and Yen Bai).

Artisans from Uoc Le trade village in Tan Uoc commune, Hanoi will guide the participants on the ways to make banh chung.

Around 1,200 cakes are expected to be made during the event. They will be presented to wounded and sick soldiers, orphans and children who are living in remote areas and difficult circumstances in Son La, Ha Giang and Cao Bang provinces as well as victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.

Notably, people from Muong and Thai ethnic minority groups will make numerous kinds of their traditional cakes, introducing their Tet customs.

In addition, a ceremony to erect cay neu (a tall bamboo tree used to ward off evil spirits during Tet) will be reproduced during the programme to show respect to gods and pray for a peaceful and happy new year.

The event is a good opportunity for all generations of Vietnamese people to express their close unity, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc.

The programme also aims to promote the unique cultural identities of Vietnamese people during the Tet festival to both domestic and foreign visitors, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the country’s traditional values.

(Source: NDO)