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The unique court rituals under the Nguyen Dynasty not only concluded the traditional Tet holiday but also marked the moment when life returned to its normal rhythm, conveying wishes for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and well-being for all people in the new year.
Amidst the lingering spring mist, ancient court rituals awaken in the heart of the Old Capital.
Court rituals are deeply rooted in Eastern philosophy.
According to folk beliefs and ancient court rituals, the New Year's pole (cây nêu) is erected on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month as a sacred milestone signaling the arrival of Tet (Lunar New Year), while also warding off evil spirits, welcoming good fortune, and inviting ancestors and deities to celebrate Tet with their descendants. When Tet concludes, the pole is taken down to bid farewell to these sacred values, returning them to the invisible realm, restoring the living space for people, and beginning a new cycle of work, study, and life.
At the Hue Imperial Citadel, the lowering of the ceremonial pole is not merely a folk ritual, but has been restored and organized according to the ancient royal court ceremonies.
At the Hue Imperial Citadel, the lowering of the ceremonial pole is not merely a folk ritual, but is restored and organized according to the ancient court rituals, with the participation of ceremonial practitioners in traditional costumes. The rituals are conducted solemnly and meticulously, clearly demonstrating the reverence of the imperial palace.
Taking place in the early morning, when the spring mist still lingers on the moss-covered roofs of the palaces, the lowering of the ceremonial pole ceremony offers visitors a unique Hue experience—gentle, profound, yet evocative. The sound of drums and ceremonial music resonates in the ancient space, blending with the first rays of sunlight shining through the Ngo Mon Gate, creating a scene that is both majestic and poetic.
Visitors and locals attending the ceremony not only witness a rare traditional ritual but also have the opportunity to fully experience the cultural rhythm of the Hue imperial court, where each ceremony embodies a philosophy of life, the harmony between humanity and heaven and earth, and between the past and the present.
Cultural highlights that attract tourists at the beginning of the year.
In recent years, the restoration and organization of royal court ceremonies such as the raising of the ceremonial pole, the lowering of the ceremonial pole, and the spring court session have become unique cultural tourism products of Hue, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists. The lowering of the ceremonial pole, with its high symbolic value and timing at the beginning of the new year, is increasingly attracting the attention of tourists, who choose it as an unmissable cultural experience when visiting the ancient capital during the spring season.
Many tourists share that witnessing the lowering of the ceremonial pole at the Hue Imperial Citadel helps them better understand the spiritual life of ancient Vietnamese people, how our ancestors perceived the relationship between humanity, nature, and the universe, as well as the value of beginnings and endings in the cycle of time.
In recent years, the restoration and organization of royal court ceremonies such as the raising of the ceremonial pole, the lowering of the ceremonial pole, and the spring court session have become unique cultural tourism products of Hue.
The organization of the flag-lowering ceremony not only serves tourism but also plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the intangible cultural heritage of Hue in particular and Vietnam in general. Through this ritual, the cultural values of the royal court, which were once in danger of disappearing, are "awakened" and brought back to contemporary life in a more vibrant and accessible way to the public.
For Hue, the Lowering of the New Year's Pole ceremony is also an opportunity to affirm the position of the ancient capital as a unique cultural and ceremonial center, where traditional rituals are not only displayed but also practiced, continued, and spread through many generations.
In the lingering atmosphere of spring, the lowering of the ceremonial pole at the Hue Imperial Citadel on the morning of the 7th day of the first lunar month is a meaningful cultural event for tourists who love heritage and want to understand the depth of Vietnamese history and cultural identity. Visiting Hue at this time, tourists not only admire the poetic scenery of the ancient capital but also slow down and listen to the rhythm of history through each ritual and each ancient space.
The lowering of the New Year's pole marks the end of the Tet season, but at the same time opens a new year filled with good hopes, in keeping with the spirit that Hue has preserved for centuries: serene, profound, and full of humanity.
