Since ancient times, people have known the very important role of fire in daily life and in production, and it has been deified and worshiped in most cultures. This religious custom is also popular in Vietnamese culture.
"This collection of poems is significant to my life; its publication celebrates the 30th anniversary of my attachment to the land of Can Tho," poet Dang Tuyet (a member of Can Tho City Writers Association) shares with us when talking about her "Về miền sông Hậu”, which is newly launched, published by the Association of Writers Publisher. Reading her poetry, we can feel the love of a Ha Tinh native who chose Can Tho as her second homeland.
4 years ago, Hanoi Museum exhibited 12 series of typical folk paintings of Vietnam. Along with renowned ones in the North and Central of Vietnam such as Đông Hồ, Kim Hoàng, Hàng Trống, làng Sình… was cloth reliefs in the Southern region. Why has this series of art been highly appreciated despite its young age? Obviously, it has been resulted from a long and wonderful journey of creativity and preservation of the Southern people.
A stable residence or housing is one of the human essential needs. During the reclamation of the Mekong River Delta, the environment was very severe, filled with miasma and wild animals. The very first condition for those who wished to reclaim a new land to settle down here was a shelter to avoid bad weather and wild animals. The natural and social features have formed the characteristics in the local houses in this place ...
“Do you see the tranquility in this river? It is why the name “Bình Thủy” (tranquil river) of this area came into being,” says the guide to a group of young tourists on a boat floating on water. It is now wavy on Hậu River due to late northeast winds; yet it is quiet and calm in this river branch. Young people spend their spring travels here because of such amazing thing.
It is no coincidence that, scholar Pham Quynh hailed Can Tho city as "La Capitale de L’Ouest" (the Capital of the West) when he first came here in early 1919. Not coincidentally, Nguyen Lien Phong, in his book "The South of the customs and traditions of the performers" published in 1909, concluded.
In his book "Civilization of the Rural Area", Son Nam has praised, "The rural area represents the highest form of material and spiritual activities in the Mekong Delta". This writer, known as "an old man typical of the South", frequently depicts the landscape of Phong Dien District, Can Tho City with the delicate and affluent features. On this Tet holiday, let’s visit this countryside to know more about its traditions and habits via the story of how the locals in Phong Dien District work in their gardens as well as how such activities have contributed to the community.
Can Tho Fine Art has not had a lot of superficial activities over the years, but gradually confirmed its position due to valuable artworks. This is clearly shown in the recent Fine Art Competition in Can Tho City in 2019.
Folk culture is an enormous treasure, including tangible values (architecture, communal houses, temples, pagodas, shrines ...) and intangible ones (customs, practices, and literature). Having existed and developed in the cultural and spiritual life of Vietnamese people, folk culture has accompanied people throughout the history since ancient time. In particular, popular literature is one of the important constituents in folk culture. Among several folklore genres is the riddle- a popular type which most people love because of its excitement and stimulation for public creativity and wisdom.
Tet parallel sentences, or Xuân liên, or liễn Tết are indispensable in some Asian countries in Lunar New Year. This custom features the beauty of spring, helping people to express their dreams of a peaceful and happy life.