Phu Thuong, formally known as Gạ Village, is famous for its flavoursome, delicious steamed sticky rice.

This year marks the first nationwide implementation of the set of criteria (SoC) for cultural and environmental standards aiming to improve the management and environment of traditional festivals.

The Yen Tu Spring Festival, one of the largest and longest festival in the north, kicks off in Uong Bi city of the northern province of Quang Ninh on February 19, or the 10th day of the first lunar month.

This year’s festival includes a modern 3D mapping sound and light show with the theme Âm Vang Mê Linh (The Echo of Mê Linh).

On the eighth day of the first lunar month every year, local residents from Thi Cam village in Hanoi take part in their traditional rice cooking contest that they believe may bring about a prosperous, happy, and peaceful new year ahead.

A series of large-scale spring festivals kicked off on February 15 (the sixth day of the first lunar month) in many northern localities.

Thousands of people converged on Dong Da Cultural Park in Hanoi’s Dong Da district on February 14 or the fifth day of the first lunar month, to attend a festival celebrating King Quang Trung’s victory over Chinese Qing invaders 235 years ago.

Going to festivals at the beginning of the year is a long-standing tradition of Vietnamese people. It is also a occasion for people to spend time with their families and friends while praying for luck and good things for the new year.

The Huong Pagoda Festival, the longest of its kind in Vietnam, is set to open in Huong Son commune, Hanoi’s outlying district of My Duc, on February 11 (the second day of the lunar new year) and last until May 1.

The festival is a traditional event held annually in Van Ninh Commune, Mong Cai City on January 9 and 10 on the lunar calendar, including a series of ceremonial spiritual practices and cultural festivities.

The ministry of culture has issued a "set of criteria for cultural environment in traditional festivals" to standardise and evaluate the state and local management and the effectiveness of organising festivals in the country.

Autumn is considered to be the most beautiful time of the year in the northern region of Vietnam when the sweltering heat of summer is replaced by a gentle autumnal breeze, and the leaves begin changing their colours.