HÀ NỘI Members of Việt Nam’s ethnic communities will usher in the new year through rituals, performances and traditional markets at the Việt Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hà Nội, offering visitors a living portrait of highland culture at the start of 2026.

From January 1 to 4, more than 100 participants from 16 ethnic groups across 11 localities, along with 24 Khơ Mú and Mông people from Huổi Một Commune in Sơn La Province, will present distinctive customs and traditions to mark the arrival of the new year.

A highlight of the programme is the re-enactment of the Khơ Mú people’s ritual for a bountiful harvest. This ceremony offers audiences a deeper understanding of the traditional agricultural beliefs of a community that mainly resides in the northwestern and north-central mountainous regions of Việt Nam.

Wedding customs of various ethnic groups from the Central Highlands will also be introduced, further enriching the cultural showcase and reflecting the diversity of marriage traditions across the country.

The event forms part of a series of New Year's Eve activities under the theme "Highland Market – Welcoming 2026". It aims to recreate the vibrant atmosphere of ethnic communities, while contributing to the preservation, promotion and transmission of traditional cultural values in contemporary life.

 

 

Around 40 stalls will feature local specialities, traditional cuisine, handicrafts and an interactive market space alive with folk songs, dances and games.

Complementing this is an exhibition titled "Colours of the Market Fair", which reflects the life, nature and people of the highlands. Demonstrations of weaving, embroidery and bamboo plaiting will further highlight the enduring values of ethnic craftsmanship.

The cultural programme also includes "Colours of the Market Fair Welcoming the New Year’", a performance of traditional music and dance, alongside staged scenes depicting "Going to the Market’".

These performances are carefully produced to recreate the lively spirit of the first market fair of the year, embodying solidarity and confidence in a prosperous future.

Visitors will also be invited to experience the making of five-coloured sticky rice — a dish closely associated with festive and New Year celebrations among northern ethnic groups — and to take part in cultural exchanges through tasting sessions.

Through this wide range of activities, the Việt Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism reaffirms its role as a key space for safeguarding, celebrating and promoting the cultural heritage of Việt Nam’s ethnic communities, while creating a warm and festive atmosphere for the first days of the new year. VNS