They light incense at the graves, sum up the family’s major events during the year for their ancestors and invite the dead back home to enjoy Tet.
Many families have come to Lac Hong Vien Cemetery in Hoa Binh City in the northern province of Hoa Binh for the ceremony earlier than usual to avoid the crowds in the coming days.
It took Pham Thi Nghiem’s family in Ha Ba Trung District, Hanoi, more than an hour to the cemetery. Over the past six months, they have not been able to come to the ceremony due to being quarantined and social distancing measures.
People usually prepare offerings such as incense, fruits, sticky rice and Chung cakes for their ancestor worshipping on this occasion.
Nguyen Thanh Liem’s family in Thanh Xuan District came to Lac Hong Vien Cemetery quite early to invite the ancestors to return home for Tet.
Bhadanta Thich Tri Thinh, Board of the Buddhist Shangha in Hoa Binh, said that tomb sweeping is a long-standing cultural tradition. Vietnamese people believe everything, including the deceased’s tombs, should be clean and bright in celebration of Tet in order to have good luck in the new year.
This also shows children and grandchildren’s respect to their parents and their ancestors