Dong Thap: Vibrant Spring and Tet Celebrations

(DTO) These days, Dong Thap seems to be wearing a colorful new coat to welcome Tet Binh Ngo 2026. Across the province, a wide range of lively and diverse activities are being organized.

According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, this year’s series of events not only commemorates the 96th anniversary of the Communist Party’s founding but also focuses on enhancing spiritual life and meeting people’s recreational needs during the traditional Lunar New Year.

A BUSTLING ATMOSPHERE OF SPRING FESTIVITIES

In the days leading up to Tet, communes and wards across the province have organized diverse cultural and sporting activities, creating a vivid picture of local spiritual life.

Specifically, My Tho Ward has implemented a large-scale plan combining urban beautification, cultural arts, and social welfare.

The highlight is the area around Lac Hong Park and the Nha Bach Cong Tu (Bach Cong Tu House), featuring miniature landscape decoration contests, acoustic music performances, modern dance shows, and nightly art programs from the 25th day of the Lunar December to the 4th day of Tet.

In addition to artistic lighting systems and colorful flower streets, the ward promotes solidarity through activities such as the “Great Unity Market,” visits and gift-giving to policy families, and support for poor households-creating a dynamic and compassionate spring atmosphere.

My Phong Ward also hosts a variety of cultural and sports activities, both fulfilling its political objectives and providing meaningful recreational spaces for the local community.

The first highlight is the Miniature Landscape and Welcome Gate Decoration Contest themed “The Soul of Vietnamese Spring,” which attracted enthusiastic participation from local schools. The contest recreated the traditional Lunar New Year atmosphere with apricot blossoms, bánh chưng (square sticky rice cakes), and red parallel sentences right at the ward Cultural House courtyard, creating an ideal check-in spot and community gathering space for residents to visit and enjoy.

In addition to decorative activities, the beauty of traditional culinary culture was honored through contests on wrapping and cooking bánh tét (cylindrical sticky rice cakes) and making coconut jam, organized by residential quarters and local mass organizations.

These activities were not only opportunities for exchange and strengthening neighborhood bonds, but also carried profound humanitarian meaning, as the finished products were directly presented to poor households and disadvantaged families. 

This spirit of sharing helped spread warmth and compassion, ensuring that everyone could enjoy a fuller and more complete Tet holiday.

Alongside experiential activities, grassroots sports movements also took place vibrantly with folk games such as stick pushing, arm wrestling, and clay pot breaking. 

These activities not only promoted physical fitness but also created a joyful Tet atmosphere and strengthened community solidarity at the local level.

Ms. Nguyen Truc Chi, a resident of My Phong Ward, said that this year’s Tet cultural, artistic, and sports activities were organized in a diverse and practical manner, clearly demonstrating the role of the two-tier local government in staying close to and caring for the people, particularly in nurturing their spiritual well-being. These efforts helped create a joyful, warm atmosphere and further strengthened community cohesion.

The spring atmosphere across communes in the province was also lively and heartwarming. In the border commune of Thường Phước, the Spring Miniature Landscape Route along Nguyễn Tất Thành Street became a highlight with nearly 20 miniature scenes created by 12 hamlets and local schools.

The area around the Party Committee and People’s Committee headquarters was brightly decorated, featuring a welcome gate shaped like a galloping horse mascot, symbolizing the aspiration for progress in the border region. The miniature scenes were creatively designed from available materials, vividly recreating the traditional rural Tet space and attracting large numbers of visitors from both inside and outside the commune for sightseeing and photography.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang, a teacher at Thuong Phuoc 1 Kindergarten, shared that the clusters of miniature landscapes and booths displaying OCOP products truly brightened the festive spring space, creating lively visual highlights for Thuong Phuoc Commune.

Meanwhile, Ba Sao Commune organized a series of diverse cultural, artistic, and sports activities. The contest “Beautiful Singing, Don Ca Tai Tu and Spring Fashion 2026,” themed around praising the Party, the homeland, and a green environment, created a meaningful and emotionally rich artistic space.

The contest “Decorating the Five-Fruit Tray and Cooking a Family Meal,” themed “Reunion Tet – Spring in Gratitude to the Party,” brought together teams from hamlets, organizations, and schools, contributing to the preservation of traditional values and the strengthening of neighborhood solidarity.

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUTDOOR CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC SPACES

The centerpiece of the Tet atmosphere in Dong Thap Province is the Binh Ngo Spring Flower Street, held at two locations: Hung Vuong Square (Dao Thanh Ward) and Ly Thuong Kiet Street (Cao Lanh Ward). 

Open to the public for nine days (from February 13 to February 21, 2026), the event will showcase impressive large-scale and miniature floral landscapes along with the meticulously designed 2026 zodiac mascot.

Notably, the water music performance program at Quang truong Hung Vuong is expected to attract large numbers of visitors with multiple daily shows (morning, afternoon, and evening). The harmonious blend of light, music, and dancing water will create a vibrant and modern entertainment space in the heart of the city.

The provincial Department of Culture has developed a diverse arts program suitable for all ages. Street music and youth bands will bring a fresh, dynamic atmosphere to Hung Vuong Square, scheduled for the 26th and 27th days of the lunar month of Chap.

In addition, a variety of performing arts programs-including music and dance shows, circus acts, and magic performances-will be staged from the 1st to the 3rd day of Tet, offering an ideal destination for families.

For those who appreciate traditional arts, a Cai Luong excerpt performance on the evening of the 4th day of Tet promises to be an emotional highlight.

Beyond watching and listening, residents can also participate in in-depth experiential activities. The Cultural and Tourism Space will feature an exhibition of more than 120 photographs showcasing the province’s scenic landscapes and achievements at the two major squares.

The Provincial Library will organize activities such as making traditional Tet jams and experiencing local crafts like Lai Vung fermented pork rolls (nem Lai Vung) and Long Khanh scarves, helping young people better understand and appreciate local cultural values.

The spirit of spring will also flourish at historical sites across the province. Activities include guided tours, hands-on experiences, and history quizzes at the Xeo Quit Relic Site  (Khu Di tích Xeo Quit); the program “Go Thap – Celebrating Traditional Tet, Preserving Our Roots” associated with local history education; the “Tet Countryside Market” at the Khu Di tích Gò Tháp; and agricultural experience activities at Hoa An Ancient Village.

With thorough preparation and a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, Dong Thap is striving for a safe and economical Tet holiday that still ensures artistic quality and joy for all residents. These efforts contribute to preserving traditions, strengthening community bonds, and reinforcing public confidence in Party and local government leadership, creating momentum for the province to confidently step into the new year with new achievements.

By THU HOAI – MY LY - PHI CONG 
Translated by X.QUANG