Lantern Festival in District 5 As a long-established tradition, the Chinese Vietnamese community in HCMC’s District 5 has begun preparing the Lantern Festival slated for the 15th night of the first lunar month. The annual event is intended for Vietnamese of Chinese descent but local people also come to visit it thanks to its special art performances and other festive activities. People usually hang flower garlands and lanterns to pray for good weather, bumper crops and thriving business. On this occasion, red lanterns are seen on the facades of club-houses, shopping centers, restaurants, hotels and private homes along Nguyen Trai, Luong Nhu Hoc and Tran Hung Dao streets in District 5. The Cultural Center of District 5 hosts a long list of activities such as displaying artistic flower lanterns and paintings, making calligraphy works, and performing kylin and dragon dances, and music programs. Meanwhile, families in the areas of Thuan Kieu Plaza, Xom Cai apartment building and An Dong Plaza celebrate the festival through traditional and modern music performances, kylin dances and other activities. On the night of the first lunar month’s 15th day, there will be a parade with the participation of club-houses, schools, kylin and dragon dance troupes,…