Year of the Horse 2026: A festival season of renewal

Alongside the solemn organisation of traditional rituals, many localities have renewed their methods of management and administration, focusing on ensuring security and order, environmental sanitation, and building civilised, safe and friendly festival spaces.

On February 22, the sixth day of the first lunar month, many major festivals in Ha Noi opened simultaneously. At the Huong Son Relic and Scenic Complex (Perfume Pagoda), from early dawn, thousands gathered at Duc Wharf to board boats heading to Thien Tru Pagoda the centre of festival activities.

From the first to the fifth day of Tet, Perfume Pagoda welcomed nearly 140,000 visitors, up 138% compared with 2025. This year’s festival season has seen numerous changes as the organising committee strengthened discipline and civility. Huong Son Commune dismantled 71 business points and removed or renovated 84 others, returning approximately 6,500 m2 of land to the shared space of the heritage site. Digitalisation has been promoted through online ticket sales, automatic ticket machines and QR code ticket control.

Le Van Trang, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Huong Son Commune, said that renewing the organisation of the Perfume Pagoda Festival not only creates a safe, friendly and quality festival season, but also lays the foundation for the sustainable development of the site in the coming period.

Visitors were delighted to attend the Co Loa Festival (Dong Anh Commune, Ha Noi), honouring the contributions of King An Duong Vuong in founding the Au Lac state. Although relic sites within the Co Loa complex are interspersed with residential areas, security and order were ensured. Trading, souvenir and catering areas were arranged separately. On the main festival day, the sixth day of the first lunar month, activities such as water puppetry, quan ho (love duet) singing, wrestling, traditional stage performances and swing games created a lively atmosphere, attracting residents and visitors.

The Giong Festival at Soc Temple, commemorating Saint Giong, also took place in a solemn and safe atmosphere. From early morning, visitors flocked to relic sites at Soc Temple to witness ritual activities. Although disorder had previously occurred during the procession of offerings and the distribution of blessed items, careful preparation ensured that this year’s activities proceeded safely.

The organising committee arranged distinctive traditional games alongside exhibitions introducing OCOP products and local cuisine, contributing to the promotion of cultural tourism potential and local socio-economic development.

In the early days of spring 2026, the Yen Tu Relic and Scenic Area (Quang Ninh Province) attracted large numbers of Buddhists and visitors for pilgrimage and worship. During the five days of Tet, it is estimated that around 130,000 people made pilgrimages to this Buddhist land.

Mac Xuan Tu, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Yen Tu Ward, said: “This year visitor numbers to Yen Tu are forecast to increase significantly; therefore, the locality has directed functional forces to proactively implement measures to ensure traffic safety and security throughout the festival.” Nguyen Thi Nhuan (Phu Tho Province) shared: “I have visited Yen Tu many times. This year, organisation has been very good, helping visitors feel secure and comfortable during their pilgrimage.”

A representative of Tung Lam Development Joint Stock Company said that from February 20 (the fourth day of Tet) to December 31, 2026, the company will waive parking fees for cars and motorbikes at Ha Kieu parking area, Yen Tu Ward. In addition, from 2026 until December 31, 2028, Quang Ninh Province will apply an entrance fee of 0 VND per visit to the relic site, contributing to tourism stimulus and spreading the value of Yen Tu World Cultural Heritage to domestic and international visitors.

Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province, stated: “The Yen Tu Spring Festival must be organised on a large and methodical scale, imbued with the characteristics of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect, spreading the value of Yen Tu World Cultural Heritage widely to residents and visitors at home and abroad.”

Known as the land of festivals, many localities in Bac Ninh Province entered the festival season in the early days of the New Year with distinctive cultural and spiritual activities. From the third day of Tet, the peony festival at Phat Tich Pagoda attracted thousands of visitors for pilgrimage and spring outings.

This year, visitor numbers were higher than in previous years; however, thanks to systematic management and organisation, the festival was conducted solemnly.

Held from the fourth to the sixth day of Tet, the Dong Ky Firecracker Procession Festival (Dong Nguyen Ward) is also a popular early-year destination for visitors praying for prosperity and good fortune.

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, thousands of residents and visitors attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Spring Festival at Bai Dinh Pagoda (Tay Hoa Lu Ward, Ninh Binh Province). The festival lasts until the end of the third lunar month.

Security and order arrangements were proactively implemented, from traffic diversion and deployment of forces at key points to enhanced camera surveillance. Service activities within festival areas were strictly controlled, with mandatory public price listings; violations were handled firmly, contributing to building the image of a safe and friendly destination. The spring opening ceremony at Tam Chuc Tourist Area (Tam Chuc Ward) was also organised in an orderly manner.

This year, the message “Revering spirituality with understanding and civility” was emphasised. The scattering of small-denomination notes, indiscriminate burning of votive paper and ostentatious offerings were subject to increased reminders by authorities, while feedback channels were established to promptly address arising situations.

Ninh Binh Province currently hosts more than 700 festivals of various scales, most of which take place in spring. According to Tran Song Tung, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, festival organisation is linked to the development of heritage tourism, cultural industries and the creative economy, aiming to build Ninh Binh into a centrally governed city by 2030.

The province requires departments, sectors and localities to proactively develop plans to ensure security and order, traffic safety, fire prevention and control, environmental hygiene and food safety throughout the festival period.