Oversea Vietnamese to celebrate the upcoming Tet holiday

On Feb 3 (23 December of lunar calendar) State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese under the Ministry of foreign Affairs held program titled "Spring in homeland - Brilliant ancestor’s home " at the Ly Thai To Square, Hanoi to welcome the fellow countrymen far away returning home for Tet reunion.

President Truong Tan Sang together with leaders of ministries, Hanoi authorities, international organizations attended the festival.

More than 1,000 Vietnamese expatriates representing 4 million oversea Vietnamese  from over 100 different countries gathered at the Xuan Que Huong cultural event in Ly Thai To Square in Ha Noi's central Hoan Kiem District to celebrate the upcoming Tet holiday.

  The event, which features performances from Vietnamese artists from all over the world, takes place every year to welcome those returning home for the country's biggest holiday.

At the event, President Truong Tan Sang expressed his appreciation for the contributions of overseas Vietnamese towards social and business activities as well as humanitarian aid.

He also extended warm regards to the four million Vietnamese living in all corners of the world.

President Sang stressed the significance of UNESCO's recognition of the Hung Kings' worshipping rite - the main theme for the Homeland Spring event - as one of the world's intangible cultural heritages of humanity.

The event was not only enjoyable but also offered good opportunities to make Vietnamese friends and find business partners from different parts of the world.

On the same day, President Truong Tan Sang, the Vietnamese overseas also joined the first ever festival honoring Ong Cong (the Land Genie) and Ong Tao (the Kitchen God) that was held at the Ngoc Son Temple , Hoan Kiem Lake , Hanoi

The 12 trays will be offered at the statue of King Ly Thai To by the Sword Lake , the Ngoc Son Temple and Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

In Vietnamese tradition, Ong Cong and Ong Tao are the most familiar and popular genies. On the 23rd day of last month of the lunar year, offerings are made to the two genies.

The belief is that both genies go to Heaven and brief Ngoc Hoang (the Jade Emperor) on the life of the owner of the house where they stay, and pray for luck, prosperity and happiness for all members of the household. On New Year's Eve, both genies will return to earth and resume their caretaking duties in the kitchen of the house.

On this day, subsequently called Ong Cong and Ong Tao festival day, Vietnamese people usually prepare a basin of water in which they put one big live carp or three small ones.