Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
The palanquin procession at the Ky Cung-Ta Phu festival in Vietnam

This is a major festival held from January 22 to 27 (lunar calendar) in Lang Son province, Vietnam with the traditional "palanquin procession" ritual to commemorate ancestors and many unique regional cultural activities. There is a special activity called "Theft of firecrackers" held on the morning of the last day of the festival. They will light a long string of firecrackers with a small coin hidden in them. According to folk belief, after the firecrackers burn out, the coin falls and whoever picks it up will have good luck throughout the year. The annual festival attracts a large number of tourists and residents.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2023
Date Uploaded: 09.2023
Photo Location: Lang Son, Vietnam
Copyright: © Minh Chu Van