Thay pagoda festival is the most popular festival in my hometown. The festival is celebrated in the 7th of March in Lunar calendar, happens in Quoc Oai, a town near Ha Noi center. In fact, people here celebrate the 7 first days of March and the last day is the main festival day. During the festival, tourists can climb the Thay mountain and explore caves here such as “Hang Gio”, “Hang Cac Co”,… Besides, people go there to visit the system of pagodas on the path to the top of the mountain. “Long Dau” is the biggest and most beautiful pagoda here. Because it is shaped like the head of the dragon, its name means that. Praying for health, prosperity and success is the main activity in the festival. On the afternoon, tourists can see the parade around the mountain with traditional music, lion dance, people wearing traditional costums to take their gods to destinations. This ritual is call "Rước Kiệu", a common thing in Viet Nam's traditional festivals. In the evening, in the central of the lake in front of the mountain, puppet show will be organized and attract lots of audience including both the locals and tourists. Tourists can also buy handicrafts and souvenirs or enjoy local cuisine. Let’s pay a visit to Quoc Oai and join the festival in the spring, you will certainly have unforgettable experience.

Tet, also known as Lunar new year festival, is the biggest traditional festival in Viet Nam. Tet is usually from the end of January to early February. Before Tet, Vietnamese prepare many things for the three main days. They clean their house and decorate with flowers such as kumquat tree or peach blossom. A huge amount of food will be bought before Tet for making traditional dishes. Banh Chung, Banh Tet, Gio cha, Xoi and Mut, …and candies are the foods that must have on Tet holidays. During Tet, people visit their relatives’ homes and give wishes. However, the Vietnamese believe that the first visitor a family receives in the year determines their fortune for the entire year, people never enter any house on the first day without being invited first. Another custom is giving lucky money, which is put into a red envelope as a symbol of luck and wish for a new age. Traditionally, elders will give lucky money to children and the oldest people in the family. However, nowadays, people can give it to anyone including friends, parents, neighbors,… Besides, Vietnamese usually go to pagodas or temples to pray for health, wealth, success,… To Vietnamese, Tet is the happiest time of all year around, members in a family can gather together, which is a meaningful messages of Lunar New year festival. All in all, Tet is all about back to origins, be good to others, enjoy the precious moment, and wish for the best to come