Festivals in March
Lao Cai
Worshipping Forest Festival of the Nung
Time: the 29th day of the first lunar month.
Place: Muong Khuong District, Lao Cai Province.
Objects of worship: Gods of village and tree.
Characteristics: Worship two ancient trees (Father and Mother trees), and worship people who sacrifice their life for reclaiming the village. Games: contest of leng hao, lan co singing, swinging, wood chess playing.
Phu Tho
Phu Ninh Festival
Time: the 12th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Phu Ninh Commune, Phu Ninh District, Phu Tho Province.
Objects of worship: Kings Hung.
Characteristics: Offering raw cock (slaughter and pluck feather), the insides of the cock is boiled and rolled by pickled scallion (according to the old tale, My Nuong came there and found a kind of sweet-smelling grass, good eating, offered the king, that is pickled scallion).
Vinh Phuc
Duc Bac Festival
Time: The 1st day of the second lunar month and from the 11th day to the 12th day of the sixth lunar month.
Place: Duc Bac Commune, Lap Thach District, Vinh Phuc Province.
Objects of worship: Thanh Ong, Princess Bat Nan (General of Hai Ba Trung) and the ancestor of xoan singing.
Characteristics: Cau dinh ceremony (pray for giving birth a son), racing boats to Phuong Lau (the other bank of the river) then striking for the basket of rice (or sheaf of rice seeds) and return, xoan singing (folk song of Vinh - Phu Provinces).
Bac Ninh
Diem Village Festival
Time: The 15th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Viem Xa Village, Hoa Long Commune, Yen Phong District, Bac Ninh Province.
Objects of worship: Vua Ba - the ancestor of quan ho folk songs.
Characteristics: quan cau dao singing, quan ho trum dau singing, and game of vieing for water ball.
Dinh Bang Communal House Festival
Time: 14th to the 15th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Dinh Bang Communal House, Dinh Bang Commune, Tu Son District, Bac Ninh Province.
Objects of worship: Mountain Genie, Water Genie, Agriculture Genie and 6 devine men who had merit of re-establishing the village after being destroyed by Minh enemy.
Characteristics: Sacrifice-offering ceremony, wrestling, cock fighting.
Ngoc Xuyen Festival
Time: the 6th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Dai Bai Commune, Gia Binh District, Bac Ninh Province.
Objects of worship: The first Saint (Lac Long Quan), the second Saint (the founder of bronze casting Nguyen Cong Truyen).
Characteristics: Custom of god worshipping, "rông lôt" game (Re-performing the merit of Lac Long Quan).
Yen Festival
Time: the 10th to the 12th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Bac Ninh City, Bac Ninh Province.
Objects of worship: Truong Hong, Truong Hat.
Characteristics:Praying for good crops, quan ho singing, characters forming, vieing for ball.
Hai Phong City
Tri Yeu Communal House Festival
Time: the 7th to the 10th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Dang Cuong Commune, An Duong District, Haiphong City.
Objects of worship: Cao Son, Qui Minh and Chang Rong - The local genie, assist Hung King against Thuc troop.
Characteristics: Worship to the genie, contests of chung cake, giay cake, wrestling.
Ha Tay
Cam Dai and Tong Lenh Festivals
Time: The 12th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Cam Linh Commune and Tong Bat Commune, Ba Vi District, Ha Tay Province.
Objects of worship: Tan Vien Genie.
Characteristics: Worshipping god, contest of catching fish follow the old tale, dish make of raw fish and vegetables (must be mang fish (milkfish) and quat fish).
Nam Dinh
Dim Temple Festival
Time: 30th day of the first lunar month to the 2nd day of the second lunar month.
Place: Nam Duong Commune, Nam Truc District, Nam Dinh Province.
Characteristics: Sacrifices- offering ceremony, and procession, traditional games such as wrestle, to tom playing (card game using a deck of 120 cards and played by five persons), cheo singing (popular opera).
Ha Nam
Truc Temple Festival
Time: 6th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Quyen Son Hamlet, Thi Son Commune, Kim Bang District, Ha Nam Province.
Objects of worship: Ly Thuong Kiet.
Characteristics: Dam songs (sing while stamping (dam) one’s foot like people rowing boat), boi trai dance.
Thai Binh
An Co Festival
Time: The 10th day of the second lunar month.
Place: An Co Hamlet, Thuy An Commune, Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province.
Objects of worship: Pham Hai (Nam Hai Royal Highest).
Characteristics: God procession, worshipping, wrestling, Chinese chess, cheo singing.
Bong Dien Festival
Time: the 14th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Tan Lap Commune, Vu Thu District, Thai Binh Province.
Objects of worship: The god of farming.
Characteristics: Water procession, praying for rain, having a procession of Saint’s palanquin.
Thanh Hoa
Ba Trieu Temple Festival
Time: the 21st day of the second lunar month.
Place: Hau Loc District, Thanh Hoa Province.
Objects of worship: Ba Trieu is a lady general and a national hero who raised the issurection against Ngo aggression.
Nghe An
Thanh Dam Festival (Mussels Procession Festival)
Time: the 15th day to the 18th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Thanh Dam Village, Nam Tan Commune, Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province.
Objects of worship: Water-nymph.
Characteristics: Mussels procession and releasing mussels.
Ha Tinh
Tong Trung Festival
Time: The second lunar month.
Place: Tien Dien Commune, Nghi Xuan District, Ha Tinh Province.
Objects of worship: The village’s tutelary god.
Characteristics: Worshipping the village’s tutelary god in the communal house, worshipping the sky, the earth, praying for good crops.
Hanoi
An Hoa Festival
Time: the 10th to the 12th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Yen Hoa Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi.
Objects of worship: Ly Nhan Tong, Lady Van Phuc, Lady Tu Nang (daughter of Ly Nam De), Bach Hac tam giang.
Characteristics: Worshipping ceremonies are carried out by men only or by women only, Chinese chess playing, cock fighting.
Ba Chua Kho Temple (Giang Vo) Festival
Time: the 12th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Giang Vo Communal House, Giang Vo Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi.
Objects of worship:Ba Chua Kho (Queen of the Stock).
Characteristics:The worshipping ceremony of 13 villages. Games: human chess, duck catching, puppetry show, and water puppetry show.
Bat Trang Village Festival
Time: From the 14th to the 16th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Bat Trang Communal House, Bat Trang Commune, Gia Lam District, Hanoi.
Objects of worship: Han Cao To and Lu Hau, Cai O Minh Chinh Tu Royal Highest, top-ranking general Phan, Ho Quoc Genie, Bach Ma Genie.
Characteristics: Water procession, ancestral tablet washing, contest of composing ca tru song to sing on the worshipping ceremony.
Quang Nam
Madam Thu Bon Festival
Time: From the 10th to the 12th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Duy Tan Commune, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province.
Objects of worship: Madam Thu Bon (the Cham).
Characteristics: Boat racing, a procession of palanquin.
Da Nang City
Quan Am Festival
Time: From the 18th to the 20th day of the second lunar month, the main festival day is on the 19th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Avalokitesvara Pagoda, Ngu Hanh Son District,Da Nang City.
Objects of worship: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
Characteristics: The procession of the statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisttava, floating lamps on the river and other philanthropic activities.
Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Nghinh Co Festival at Dinh Co Shrine
Time: The 12th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Long Hai Town, Long Dien District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province.
Objects of worship: “Co” (young lady) is named as Le Thi Hong Thuy.
Characteristics: Water festival (procession is used by boats and ships on the sea); many people take part in.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ky Yen Festival at Binh Dong Communal House
Time: From the 10th to the 14th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Ward 7, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City.
Objects of worship: Masters of vocational training in the hamlet.
Characteristics: Worshiping ceremony of the ancestor of the work and long for peace ceremony.
Ky Yen Festival at Truong Tho Communal House
Time: the 17th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Objects of worship: The village’s tutelary god, tien hien, hau hien (sages of former time).
Characteristics: The offering must be a living pig. There is no boi (tuong) singing as many other communal houses in the South, because taboo with genies.
Ong Dia Temple Festival
Time: The 2nd day of the second lunar month.
Place: 125 Le Loi Street, Ward 3, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City.
Objects of worship: Genie of the earth Phuc Duc Chinh Than and many other popular genies.
Characteristics: Bong roi singing, tuong (classical drama) performance.
The death anniversary of the founder of jewelry
Time: The 7th to the 9th day of the second lunar month.
Place: Le Chau Congregation, 586 Tran Hung Dao, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.
Objects of worship: The founder of jewelry.
Characteristics: Ancestor’s death anniversary.
Exhibitions
Hanoi
Goethe Institute
56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Tel: 7342251
- Den Roi Di (Arrive then Leave) painting exhibition by Duong Thuy Duong, daily till Mar 24.
Bookworm
15A Ngo van So St., Tel: 9437226
- Whimsical Stories painting exhibition by Le Chi Hieu, till Mar 30.
- Evidences oil painting exhibition by Mexican artist Fernando Aceves Humana. Till Feb 20.
Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology
Nguyen Van Huyen St., Cau Giay Dis. Tel: 7562193
- Exhibition entitled We Have Eaten the Forest: Georges Condominas in Sar Luk, featuring life and customs of Mnong Gar ethnic minority people in 1948-1950.
Ho Chi Minh City
Phuong Mai Art Gallery
213C Le Thanh Ton, Dist 1. Tel: 8233181.
- Paintings entitled Two Generations by father&son artists La Hon and La Nhu Lan, daily 9am-9pm, till Mar 30.
Tu Do Gallery
53 Ho Tung Mau St., Dist 1. Tel: 8210966
- Recent works by artists Bui Quang Anh, Tran Hoang Minh Duc, Duong Tuan Kiet, Nguyen Tuan Khoi and others, till Apr 10.
War Remnants Museum
28 Vo Van Tan St., Dist 3.
- Photo collection entitled Surviving the Peace featuring victims of landmines and landmine clearance around the world by British photo journalist Sean Sutton, till Apr 15.
Performances
Hanoi
Ha Noi Opera House
1 Trang Tien St, Tel: 9330131 ; 5651806
- Symphony concert with Ha Noi Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Nguyen Thieu Hoa, pianist Thai Linh, at 8pm, Mar 18.
- The Night of Romantic Music with conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura, saxophonist Quyen Thien Dac, at 8pm, Mar 23&24.
Tickets: VND250,000; 200,000; 150,000, available at the Opera House or can book over www.ticketvn.com. Booking tel: 0913489858; 5651806.
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
57B Dinh Tien Hoang St, Tel: 8220268
- Water puppet extracts at 4pm; 5.15pm; 6.30pm; 8pm; 9.15pm. Tickets: VND20,000-40,000.
Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology
Nguyen Van Huyen Rd., Tel: 7562193
- Ca Tru performance on Sun of the fourth week every month.
- Water puppet performance at 10am; 11.30am; 2.30pm; 4pm. Tickets: VND10,000-20,000.
National Circus Theatre
67-69 Tran Nhan Tong St. Tel: 8220277
- Shows at 10am; 8pm everyday. Tickets: VND40,000-50,000.
Ha Noi Cheo Club
15 Nguyen Dinh Chieu St. Tel: 9437361
- Vietnamese popular opera accompanied by traditional orchestra. Performances on Mon & Fri at 8pm. Ticket price at VND50,000.
Kim Ma Theatre
1 Giang Van Minh St,. Tel 8457403
- Selected cheo (popular opera) extracts, at 8pm. Ticket prices at VND40,000-50,000.
Viet Nam Tuong Theatre
51 Duong Thanh St,. Tel 8287268
- Five scenes from traditional Tuong plays, at 5pm, Wed & Thu. Ticket prices at VND50,000.
Ho Chi Minh City
Park Hyatt Sai Gon Hotel
2 Lam Son Sq, Dist 1, Tel: 08 85202329
Park Lounge
- Live performance featuring folk, rock & jazz by American singer & composer Jen Woodhouse, from Texas, USA, 8pm-midnight, Tue-Sun.
Vo Van Tan Theatre
5B Vo Van Tan St., Dist 3.
- Performance Kangaroo Comes to Vietnam - a new work by international award winning writer & director Le Quy Duong, every Mon at 8pm. Ticket at door: VND80,000. For bookings, call 0985 913 579-0985 902 468.
Labour Cultural Palace
55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Dist 1.
- Water puppetry at 6.30pm and 8pm, Sat & Sun.
Duxton Hotel Sai Gon
63 Nguyen Hue St., Dist 1. Tel: 8222999
The Bar
- Piano music, 5.30-9.15pm, Mon-Sun (4-7.45pm, Fri & Sat)
- Happy hours at 5pm-7pm.
Rex Hotel
141 Nguyen Hue St, District 1,
Tel: 8299084
Rooftop Garden
- Los Lamados Filipino band, nightly from 8pm (except Monday).
Cinemas
Hanoi
Fansland Cinema
84 Ly Thuong Kiet St, Tel: 9424484
- Life Is Beautiful (Italy, DV), Feb 8, at 6pm.
- P.S. I Love You (US, DV), at 8.15pm, Mar 17.
Dan Chu Cinema
211 Kham Thien St, Tel: 8516702
- National Treasure II (US, DV), till Mar 20.
- Beowulf (US, DV), till Mar 20.
August Cinema
45 Hang Bai St, Tel: 04 8253911
- Beowulf (US, DV).
- No Reservations (US, DV).
- Em Muon Lam Nguoi Noi Tieng (I Want To Be Famous) (VN).
National Cinema Centre
87 Lang Ha St, Tel: 5141716
- No Reservations (US, DV).
- Beowulf (US, DV).
- Attack on Pin Up Boys (RoK, DV).
- National Treasure II (US, DV).
- Enchanted (US, DV).
- Love Now (Korea, DV).
- Nu Hon Than Chet (The Hot Kiss) (VN).
MegaStar Cineplex
191 Ba Trieu St, Tel: 9743333
- Balls of Fury (US, OV).
- National Treasure II (US, OV).
- Beowulf (US, OV).
- Spiderwick Chronicles (US, OV)
- Enchanted (US, OV).
- Love Now (Korea, DV).
- Attack on Pin Up Boys (RoK, OV).
- Firehouse Dog (US, OV).
Ngoc Khanh Cinema
521 Kim Ma St, Tel: 7712750
- Beowulf (US, OV).
- Love Now (Korea, DV).
- National Treasure II (US, DV).
- Hitman (US, DV).
Bach Mai Cinema
437 Bach Mai St, Tel: 6273966
- Love Now (Korea, DV).
Dang Dung Cinema
17-19 Dang dung St, Tel: 7342832
- War (US, DV), till Mar 20.
Ho Chi Minh City
Galaxy Nguyen Du Cinema
116 Nguyen Du St, Dist 1, Tel: 08 8235235
- Spiderwick Chronicles (US, OV)
- 27 Dresses (US, OV)
- Atonement (US, OV).
Galaxy Nguyen Trai Cinema
230 Nguyen Trai St, Dist 1, Tel: 9206688
- Spiderwick Chronicles (US, OV)
- 27 Dresses (US, OV)
- Atonement (US, OV).
Megastar Cineplex Hung Vuong
Hung Vuong Plaza, 126 Hung Vuong Dist 5. Tel: 2220388
- P.S. I Love You (US, OV), 10am, 8.50pm.
- 27 Dresses (US, OV), 10.30am, 8.30pm.
- Alvin and Chipmunks (US, OV), 10.45am, 8.45pm.
- Balls of Furry (US, OV), 10.15am-8.15pm.
- Spiderwick Chronicles (US, OV), 10.10am-9.10pm.
- National Treasure II (US, OV), 10.20am-9pm.
- Attack on Pin Up Boys (RoK, OV), 11.10am-9.20pm.
- Enchanted (US, OV), 11am-8.40pm.
- Garfield 2 (US, OV), till Mar 20.
Dining Out
Hanoi
Thai Vine Restaurant
31A Xuan Dieu Rd, Tel: 7191448
- More than 100 Thai traditional dishes, daily from 9am-11pm.
Nineteen 11 Restaurant
1 Trang Tien St, Tel: 9334801
- International and Vietnamese cuisine collide, 11am-2pm & 6pm-midnight.
Sochu Restaurant
123 Mai Hac De St, Tel: 2780721
- Korean-style grill, 10.30am till midnight.
Hanoi Hanoi Cafe & Restaurant
43 Trang Tien St, Tel: 9367688
- Western and Asian dishes, fine wine and cocktails, opens daily.
Hanoi Horison Hotel
40 Cat Linh St, Tel: 7330808
Le Mayeur
- Daily lunch buffet.
- Theme dinner buffet, Mon-Sat nights.
- Sunday brunch with Asian and international dishes.
Lee Man Fong Asian Restaurant
- Daily lunch and dinner menus both dim sum and a la carte.
- Dim sum at $11++/person.
Marble Court
- Cakes, pastries and snacks.
Sofitel Metropole Hanoi
15 Ngo Quyen St. Tel: 8266919
Le Beaulieu
- Hanoi culinary traditions, Mar 21-31.
- Classy and stylish Easter brunch, Mar 23.
Spices Garden
- Friendly and relaxing Easter ambience, Mar 23.
La Terrasse
- Innovative and unexpected association of caviar, scallop and French vodka, 6pm-9.30pm, till Mar 29.
Sofitel Plaza Hanoi
1 Thanh Nien Road - Tel: 8238888
Song Hong Bar
- Champagne Night on Sat.
Brasserie Westlake
- Seafood buffet dinner on Sat.
Ming Palace
- Sunday Dim Sum brunch.
Fortuna Hotel
6B Lang Ha St. Tel: 8313333
Tiffin
- International lunch buffet.
Hanoi Hotel
8D Giang Vo St, Tel: 8452270
Dragon Chinese Restaurant
- Daily dim sum lunch buffet.
- Saturday hot pot dinner buffet.
Ho Chi Minh City
Park Hyatt Sai Gon Hotel
2 Lam Son Sq, District 1, Tel: 08 85202329
Opera Restaurant
Gourmet wine dinner with celebrity wine maker Roberto bava from piemonte, Italy
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L’en tete Restaurant & Bar
51st Fl, 139 Nguyen Thai Binh St, Dist 1, Tel: 8214049.
- Grilled seabass & seared tuna, daily 6pm-12pm, Mon-Sat.
- Piano jazz, on Mon, Wed & Sat.
Hotel Equatorial
242 Tran Binh Trong St, Dis 5, Tel: 8397777
Orientica Restaurant
- Cooked to order seafood including fresh fish, oyster and more for daily lunch & dinner.
Chit Chat Restaurant
- Brunch with free flow of sparkling wine&juice, every Sun, 11.30am-2.30pm.
Duxton Hotel Sai Gon
63 Nguyen Hue St, Dist 1. Tel: 8222999
The Grill
- New a la carte menu dishes, till Mar 31.
The Bar
- A selection of fries & and wedges made with imported US potatoes & spices.
- A selection of various teas with choices of cakes, canapes, finger sandwiches, snacks and homemade chocolates, daily at 2pm-6pm.
Omni Sai Gon Hotel
253 Nguyen Van Troi St, Phu Nhuan Dist, Tel: 8449222
Cafe Sai Gon
- Easter Sunday brunch & dinner featuring traditional Easter items & imported wines, Mar 23.
Mulligans
- Special crafted cocktail for Easter, Mar 20-24.
Nishimura
- Japanese cuisine by chef Ryoichi Iwashita, from Osaka.
OJ’s
- Create your own hot dog from a wide variety of condiments for US$3++ per hot dog.
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