Ban Sóc was the celebration to officially issue the calendar under the Nguyen Dynasty, held periodically at the end of the lunar year. Source: thuathienhue.gov.vn

On the first day of 2022, Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Committee organized a ceremony to kick off the 2022 Hue Festival.

The kick-off ceremony included a re-enactment of the Ban Soc ceremony and the announcement of the 2022 festival’s framework.

The central destination has hosted the International Hue Festival for 20 years, spotlighting the finest cultural values of the former imperial city. This year, in addition to some exclusive programs honoring the traditional festivals and cultures, and exchanging cultures from around the world, the biennial festival will consist of many street festivals and events held sporadically over the year to continuously promote Hue’s culture to tourists.

The event welcomed the presence of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Thanh Binh. Source: thuathienhue.gov.vn

Festival Hue 2022 will be held in different time frames throughout the year instead of a specific time as usual, Vice Chairman of Thua Thien-Hue province Nguyen Thanh Binh said at the ceremony to announce the event.

According to VOV, the Spring festival will take place from January to March and include the re-enactment of New Year rituals and a culinary event.

The Summer festival will be held from April to June with art performances, ao dai shows, and a street carnival.

Meanwhile, the Autumn festival from July to September will feature ancient villages, a boat racing in the Perfume river, a lantern festival, and a unicorn dancing festival, among other activities.

The Winter festival from October to December will include a bolero singing contest, a music festival and a countdown event on New Year’s Eve.

On January 1 morning, the Ban Soc ritual is replicated, which essentially means to dole out calendar books to residents at Ngo Mon gate, Hue city. Source; Thanh Nien newspaper

The practice was held periodically at the end of every lunar year under the Nguyen Dynasty. Source: cand.com.vn

The Ban Soc ritual was replicated, which essentially means to dole out calendar books to residents at Ngo Mon gate, Hue city.

Ban Soc was the celebration to officially issue the calendar under the Nguyen Dynasty, held periodically at the end of the lunar year. Because the ancient Vietnamese people heavily relied on agricultural economy, the calendar was of immense significance as it helped the farmers keep track of time for farming activities and beware of weather changes to adapt to disasters and extreme weather conditions.

In the past, the agricultural economy was key to Vietnamese people, thus the calendar book played a pivotal role in helping people track the time, acknowledge of weather changing patterns to promptly respond and avoid the different natural disasters. Source: cand.com.vn

The calendar, after being reviewed by the emperor, was conferred to officials in charge of Thai Hoa Palace by high ranking officials. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper

The calendar was then sent to provinces and other localities. Source: cand.com.vn

The Ban Soc ceremony was formally held as Emperor Minh Mang started to reign. Every year, after Kham Thien Giam (Directorate of Imperial Observatory) finished composing the calendar, the court held the Ban Soc ceremony under the direction of two officials from Bo Le (The Board of Rites) and Kham Thien Giam. The calendar first made its way to the palace for royal use, then to the mandarins in the Imperial City and other localities, and finally to the masses.

The Ban Soc ceremony has been re-enacted on stage with dramatic old etiquette and rituals since 2021. The ceremony was to honor our ancestors’ cultural heritage and to serve as a chance for visitors and local people to experience Hue's heritage values on the first day of a new year.

Hue Festival will bring visitors new tourism experience. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper

Hue, the imperial capital in Vietnam for over 100 years, has been a unique destination in central Vietnam with its five UNESCO heritage offerings: the ancient citadel relic complex, Hue royal court music, Nguyen Dynasty’s wooden blocks, Nguyen Dynasty’s royal administrative documents, and literature on Hue royal architecture.

The province has won three ASEAN tourism awards, which will be presented at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2022 in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, VNA reported Saturday.

Hue, which offers its unique tourism service: One Destination-Five UNESCO recognized world heritages, bagged the ASEAN MICE destination, while Silk Path Hotel and Vedana Lagoon Resort & Spa took the ‘green hotel and resort’ prize.

Tour services in the former imperial capital, royal palace and tombs as well as the ancient architecture of Hue monuments complex won the ASEAN sustainable tourism product.

Hue hosted the first 151 tourists visiting the province in the New Year on a flight on Vietnam Airlines on Jan. 1.

In the past years, Hue was presented with ASEAN Clean Tourist Awards with Hoi An city in Quang Nam province, and Da Lat city in Lam Dong province, with the titles valid for 2018-2020.

The Divine Features Of Hue's Ancient Phu Cam Cathedral Unlike the ancient mausoleums, temples, or religious buildings in Hue, Phu Cam church has a modern and impressive architectural style.

Vietnam, India Celebrate 5 Years of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in New Delhi Fifth anniversary of Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership marked in New Delhi

Hue Festival 2018 draws 1.2 million attendees Close to 1.2 million people, including about 400,000 tourists, took part in the 10th Hue Festival, which was held between April 27th and May 2nd.