Every year, at the end of the harvest season, the Si La people begin their Tet celebrations. There is therefore no exact time for Tet, as it depends on when the harvest is completed, which is usually lunar October or November. On the first day of the new year, all Si La families slaughter a pig, whose size depends on the economic conditions in each household. However, it must be a black male pig. The Si La believe that the sooner they slaughter the pig the greater the luck in the new year. After the worshiping ceremony, the family enjoys a meal at the house of the family head. They also take some of the offerings home. The Si La people did not hold any entertainment in the past due to their migratory lives. With the support and encouragement of local authorities, many cultural and sports contests are now held during their new year holiday. People from the ethnic minority group have a deep love of the arts and considers playing and listening to music an indispensable part of … [Read more...] about Unique Tet celebrations of Si La ethnic minority in Lai Chau province
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Vietnam introduces new beauty pageant
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports has approved the organization of the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, which is scheduled to take place until the end of the year. The organizer, Golden Lotus Advertising Commercial JSC, announced the inception of the annual contest at a press conference on Sunday evening. Luong Thuy Linh (L), Miss World Vietnam 2019, Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc (C), Miss Intercontinental 2022, and Nguyen Thu Thuy Tien, Miss Grand International 2021, are introduced as the ambassadors of the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, February 5, 2023. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre The preliminary round began last month and will last until August. The semifinal will take place in September while the finale is slated for November and December with the participation of 63 contestants. Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, Miss Grand International 2021, attends the press conference for the Miss National Vietnam 2023 beauty pageant, … [Read more...] about Vietnam introduces new beauty pageant
Major quake kills nearly 200 across Turkey, Syria
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria early on Monday, killing nearly 200 people, levelling buildings while many were still asleep, and sending tremors that were felt as far away as the island of Cyprus and Egypt. The emergency service in Turkey put the initial death toll at 76, although it threatened to climb substantially higher because the night-time disaster had flattened dozens of apartment blocks across major cities. At least 119 people also died in government-controlled parts of Syria, as well as the northern areas held by pro-Turkish factions, according to the health ministry and a local hospital. Television images showed shocked people in Turkey standing in the snow in their pyjamas, watching rescuers dig through the debris of damaged homes. The quake struck at 04:17 am local time (0117 GMT) at a depth of about 17.9 kilometres (11 miles) near the Turkish city of Gaziantep, which is home to around two million people, the US Geological Survey said. Turkey's … [Read more...] about Major quake kills nearly 200 across Turkey, Syria