In Vietnamese tradition, the Land Genie and Kitchen Gods worshipping ritual is held on the 23rd day of the last lunar month, which falls on Feb. 2 this year. It is also considered the start of the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival - the biggest and most important traditional holiday of Vietnamese.

President Vo Van Thuong (2nd, R) and his spouse Phan Thi Thanh Tam release carps as part of the Kitchen God worshipping ritual at Nha Rong Wharf in HCMC, Feb. 2, 2024.

As the legend goes, "Ong Cong" (Land Genie) is the one in charge of land while "Ong Tao" (Kitchen Gods), consisting of two males and one female, are those who keep a watch over kitchen affairs of a family. They take note of a family’s issues in a year and will ride carps back to the Heaven on the 23rd day of the last lunar month, one week before the new year, to report all the good and bad things of that family to the God of Heaven.

This year, the ritual drew 100 overseas Vietnamese who are participating in the annual "Xuan Que Huong" (Homeland Spring) program 2024.

Before conducting the carp release ritual, president Thuong, his spouse and the overseas Vietnamese offered incense and flowers in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh and late President Ton Duc Thang.

Also on Friday, the State leader and his entourage spent a minute of silence in commemoration of President Ho Chi Minh at the President Ho Chi Minh statue park on Nguyen Hue Street in HCMC's District 1.

Workers receive free motorbike repairs for safe Tet trips home

Several businesses and factories in Ho Chi Minh City are offering their workers free motorbike repair services so they can safely return to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Dragons, dragons everywhere as Tet approaches

Mascots of dragon, the zodiac animal of the lunar year starting Feb. 10, are sprouting up in different localities as decoration for Tet.

PM urges drastic actions to ensure traffic safety during Tet

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for drastic actions to ensure traffic order and safety during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday and spring festivals, as heavy traffic is forecast.

Warm "Tet reunion" for workers in Bac Giang

BAC GIANG - On the occasion of 2024 Lunar New Year, the Labor Confederation of Bac Giang province on January 27 coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade and some organizations to launch the program "Tet reunion - Spring sharing" associated with the Trade Union Tet Market and Zero VND booth for workers at Quang Chau industrial park in Viet Yen township.

OVs, friends in Belgium delighted with Vietnamese Tet experiences

Joining their peers across the world in welcoming the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon, Vietnamese expats in Belgium have joyfully prepared for event - the biggest and most important traditional festival of Vietnamese people in a year.

Source: VnExpress