The Hanoi Lotus Festival 2024 is a highly anticipated event, marking the first of its kind, to be held from July 12 to 16 at the Tay Ho Cultural and Creative Space in Hanoi, Vietnam.
With a focus on celebrating the beauty and significance of the lotus plant, the festival promises a range of unique and captivating activities. One of the main attractions will be the opportunity to explore and experience the famous Tay Ho lotus ponds up close.
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| The preparation of traditional Tay Ho lotus tea, a craft unique to Hanoi. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times |
Chu Duc Trong, a local farmer, shared that despite the unusually hot sun this year, he and other pond owners are working diligently to ensure a vibrant and lush lotus garden during the festival. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the beauty of the lotuses, take photographs, and participate in a variety of exciting activities. Decorative objects will also be placed around the ponds to enhance the photo opportunities for guests.
The festival will also showcase the renowned West Lake Lotus, which attracts thousands of visitors each year. In preparation, pond owners have crafted lotus tea and mut sen (sugar-coated lotus seeds), a delicious local treat. Hien Xiem, a famous lotus tea brand in Hanoi, has prepared a unique lotus tea blend especially for the event.
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| Lotus flowers carefully selected for making tea. Photo: Ngoc Anh/The Hanoi Times |
Luu Thi Hien, owner of the Hien Xiem Lotus Tea brand, shared that her family has a long tradition of crafting lotus tea, passing down the art through generations. Each year, they supply large quantities of their delicate tea to the market. Hien expressed her hope that the festival will help promote the time-honored tradition of Hanoi Lotus tea and inspire artisans to continue preserving this craft.
According to the Tay Ho District People’s Committee, the festival will feature a diverse range of lotus-centered products and activities. These include lotus flowers, lotus silk, sweet soup, sticky rice, sausages, decorative items, and handicrafts. Bui Thi Lan Phuong, Vice Chairwoman of the Committee, emphasized that the event will provide a unique and captivating experience for both locals and tourists, showcasing the cultural and economic significance of the lotus in Vietnamese life, particularly in Hanoi.
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| The breathtaking Bach Diep (one hundred petals) pink lotus, a renowned species in West Lake. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times |
Nguyen Dinh Khuyen, Chairman of the Tay Ho District People’s Committee and head of the festival’s organizing committee, shared that the event will also serve as a platform to promote OCOP products from the northern provinces. It aims to foster exchanges between Hanoi and other localities, showcase local products, attract tourists, and contribute to the economic and tourism development of the region.
The Hanoi Lotus Festival 2024 promises to be a memorable celebration, offering a rich cultural experience and a unique insight into the beauty and versatility of the lotus plant.
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