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Legend has it that in the time of Hai Ba Trung (Trung sisters), female general Le Chan asked her soldiers to make clay firecrackers in order to create loud explosions to threaten foreign invaders. Since then, clay firecracker have become a traditional game at festivals. Firecrackers are produced using clay. Each clay firecracker weighs between 30kg and 80kg. The festival draws the participation of seven teams, including 210 firecracker makers from seven communes such as Tan Huong, Tan Quang, and Nghia An of Ninh Giang district, as well as Minh Duc, Dai Hop, and Quang Khai of Tu Ky district, and Duc Xuong of Gia Loc district. Firecracker makers must be in good health and have experience in clay firecracker contests. Clay firecrackers are a traditional folk game in the northern region that involves hurling clay crackers to create noise. It is done to pray for good harvests and no natural disasters in the year ahead. It is bel...

The three-day festival aims to honour Kinh Duong Vuong in his role as the first king of the Vietnamese people, duly upholding the nation’s cultural traditions and enhancing solidarity among Vietnamese people. This year the festival is taking place from February 6 to February 8, with the event featuring numerous traditional rituals, cultural and sporting activities, and folk games. An incense purifying ceremony is held at the temple dedicated to Kinh Duong Vuong. Elsewhere, a palanquin procession and other activities get underway at the festival. Nguyen Anh Tuan, secretary of Bac Ninh provincial Party Committee, beats a drum to mark the opening of the festival. A palanquin procession rite draws the attention of both local residents and tourists. The Kinh Duong Vuong traditional festival has been maintained through numerous generations in which to show people’s deep gratitude to their ancestors, as well as demonstrating their hope...

Nguyen Thi Tuyen, vice secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, attends a send-off ceremony in Bac Tu Liem district. Youths in Hoan Kiem district say goodbye to their families and friends as they depart for military service. All young people joining the army this year must meet health and education level requirements. Military service is compulsory for Vietnamese men from 18 to 25 years of age and is extended to 27 for those applying for a delay to pursue higher education degrees. Nguyen Do Hai Phong of Hoan Kiem district, who represents young volunteers joining the army, promises to train himself and successfully fulfil all assigned tasks for the nation. A mother bursts into tears as her son joins the army for the first time. Many families are both happy and proud when their sons are recruited for military service, following in the footsteps of older generations who served in the army. Do Dac Thang of Hoan Kiem dis...