When is the time of the firework display of the Lim Festival 2025 of Vietnam? What are the State budget’s grants for traditional festivals in Vietnam?

When is the time of the firework display of the Lim Festival 2025 of Vietnam?

The Lim Festival in 2025 is scheduled for two days, February 9 and February 10 (which corresponds to the 12th and 13th day of the first month in the Year of the Snake). This year, the Lim Festival will be organized in three communes, formerly part of Noi Due, now known as Lim commune-level town, Noi Due commune, and Lien Bao commune. The festival center is Hong Van Mountain (Lim Mountain) in the commune-level town of Lim.

The annual Lim Festival aims to promote traditional cultural values in the district and aims for the Lim regional festival to be recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage. Specifically, the Lim Festival includes the following activities:

(1) Ceremonial activities:

- February 9 (12th of the first month): From 8 AM, Dinh Ca Village Communal House will hold a ceremony to receive the provincial relic recognition, and an incense offering ceremony at Hong An Pagoda. On the evening of February 9, there will be a performance by the Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theater at the main stage of the festival.

- February 10 (13th of the first month - main festival day): From 7:30 AM, a ceremony to offer tribute takes place between Dinh Ca Village Communal House and Lo Bao Village Communal House, Noi Due commune; followed by incense offerings at communal houses, temples, and pagodas in Lien Bao commune and commune-level town Lim.

(2) Festival activities:

- Quan Ho singing: At Lim Hill center, Quan Ho folk song performances will be held on the main stage and at tents (estimated 10-15 tents), and on boats in the Van Tuong Regulating Lake area.

- Traditional folk games: Include activities such as swings, traditional wrestling, blindfolded games, breaking pots, human chess competitions, shuttlecock volleyball, "to tom diem" card game, calligraphy, poetry festivals, hosting traditional Quan Ho singing, Quan Ho houses, Quan Ho singing at temple gates, on boats, and at artisan families in Lung Giang, Lung Son, Due Dong villages (commune-level town Lim); Dinh Ca, Lo Bao villages in Noi Due commune… and an exhibition on preserving Quan Ho values.

- Culinary culture: At Van Tuong Regulating Lake area, culinary cultural activities, folk games, and art programs will take place.

- Fireworks display: At 9 PM on February 9 (12th of the first month), there will be a low-altitude fireworks display at Van Tuong Regulating Lake area.

The organization of Lim Festival in 2025 also aims to instill a sense of pride in the long-standing cultural traditions of Kinh Bac homeland, showing reverence and gratitude to historical and cultural figures, and national heroes in the nation's foundation and defense. It also provides an opportunity for visitors to experience and participate in the unique cultural activities of the locality.

When is the time of the firework display of the Lim Festival 2025 of Vietnam? (Image from Internet)

What are the principles for organizing the Lim Festival in Vietnam?

According to Article 5 of Decree 110/2018/ND-CP regarding the principles for organizing festivals, they are as follows:

- The organization of festivals aims to educate about patriotism, national pride, the philosophy “When drinking water, remember its source,” and to honor the achievements of predecessors, historical figures, and individuals who have significantly contributed to the nation's formation and development. It also promotes the values of historical, cultural, and architectural heritage and the fine traditions of the festival.

- Festivals must be organized in a dignified, practical, and effective manner; appropriate to the scale and content of the festival; traditional festivals should be organized according to their intrinsic nature and historical and cultural significance; reduce frequency and duration of cultural festivals.

- The ceremonies of the festival must be solemn and ensure tradition; not engage in violent, offensive, or acts against the Vietnamese tradition of peace and humanity.

- Educate, guide human behavior, attitudes, and awareness toward noble ideals; eliminate tendencies of pursuing material gains, greed, and personal interests.

- Measures must be taken to protect relics, scenic spots; ensure security, order, and social safety; prevent fire and explosion, ensure traffic safety and environmental hygiene.

- Do not exploit festival organization for personal gain or to serve group interests; do not force organizations or individuals to contribute funds for organizing the festival.

- Limit the use of state budgets, enhance private investment in resources for organizing festivals; practice thrift and combat wastefulness.

What are the State budget’s grants for traditional festivals in Vietnam?

According to Article 8 of Circular 04/2023/TT-BTC, the state's budget support for traditional festivals are as follows:

- The state budget supports activities to restore and promote the value of traditional festivals to evoke patriotism, national pride, and maintain unique and exemplary cultural values that meet the spiritual needs of the people.

- The specific budget support amount is based on the festival organization plan approved by competent authorities, the ability to mobilize financial resources beyond the state budget for festival organization, and the balancing ability of the state budget, and is determined by competent authorities according to the law on state budget and budget decentralization.

- State budget support expenditures for traditional festivals are only implemented when there is an estimate assigned by competent authorities, and must comply with policies, standards, and spending norms set by competent authorities.

- The unit assigned to manage and use funds for festival organization is responsible for budgeting, adhering to the state budget, accounting, and finalizing in accordance with the law on state budget. The budget support funds from the state are accounted for under type 160, item 161 (cultural information careers), detailed by item and sub-item of the state budget table of contents.