Hanoi Outlines Plans to Ensure Safe and Civilized Spring Festivals in 2024

As the Lunar New Year approaches, Hanoi is preparing to host more than 1,500 traditional festivals throughout 2024. To ensure these cultural events run smoothly, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports recently held a comprehensive conference with representatives from various districts, the police force, and transport departments. Led by Deputy Director Tran Thi Van Anh and Bui Minh Hoang, Head of the Cultural Lifestyle and Family Division, the meeting focused on establishing strict guidelines for safety, security, environmental protection, and civilized conduct during the festive season.

Hanoi’s spring festivals are deeply rooted in the spiritual and cultural lives of the Vietnamese people. They serve as a meaningful way to honor national heroes, historical figures, and ancestors who contributed to building and defending the nation. The Hanoi People's Committee has emphasized that all festivals in 2024 must be organized in accordance with the law, respecting traditional customs while actively discouraging superstitious activities, wasteful practices, and chaotic behavior.

Several major festivals received special attention during the conference. The Dong Da Mound Festival, which kicks off on the 5th day of Tet, is one of the city's key events. Representatives from Dong Da District confirmed that preparations are complete, featuring free parking spaces and a strict ban on street vendors within the main festival grounds to maintain order. Additionally, this year’s festival will include an extra night of artistic performances for public enjoyment.

In Me Linh District, the historic Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival will feature a unique change, with the opening ceremony taking place in the evening instead of the morning. Visitors will be treated to a spectacular 3D mapping light show illustrating the heroic history of the Trung Sisters. Meanwhile, in Soc Son District, organizers of the Giong Festival are taking proactive measures to manage the traditional offering distribution (tat lộc) to prevent the chaotic scrambling that has occurred in previous years, ensuring a peaceful and orderly atmosphere.

This year marks the first time Hanoi is implementing the national set of criteria for building a cultural environment at traditional festivals, issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Local authorities are urged to train festival staff on polite communication and hospitality. There is also a strong push to utilize digital communication, including local websites and social media platforms, to educate tourists on festival rules, environmental protection, and the historical significance of each heritage site.

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