by Ngoc Ta Quang

Created on: January 24, 2007   Last Updated: November 09, 2010

How Valentine's Day is celebrated in Vietnam?

Valentine's Day! What does it mean to you? The name Valentine' comes from the Latin word valor', meaning worthy and first became associated with romance, and the giving of flowers and gifts, in the High Middle Ages, around the time when the tradition of courtly love flourished. Valentine's Day has many symbols, some dating back as long as Valentine's Day itself. In recent times however, the more obscure symbols have been replaced with those we all know today - such as cupid, hearts and roses, a written message of love on a piece of paper, Valentine Cards, flowers, candies, and love letters and more... Historically, February is a popular month for love-related festivals. Many ancient celebrations were no doubt inspired by the snowdrifts, inexplicable crankiness, and multiple layers of clothing that often stand between lovers in mid-winter. Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day - falling as ever on February 14 - is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other, often by sending cards, flowers and gifts. There was often a social gathering or a ball. This meaning is well expressed by a more commerce oriented way that Vietnam celebrates Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day, once a Western tradition only, now brings hope to both lovers and businesses in Vietnam. Recently, young Vietnamese are more passionate and likely to celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14th than any other love festivals, especially in big cities such as Saigon, Hanoi and others as well. Still, in some other cities and rural areas efforts are being made to bring back many of the traditional festivals - including Le Hoi Trao Duyen, (Exchange love Festival). For instance, in mountainous areas young girls and boys still sing and exchange folk love songs Hat Trao Duyen' when Spring Festivals come just after TET' the lunar New Year as celebrated in Vietnam; observed for three days after the first full moon after January 20th.
In Saigon, hundreds of city youth have been joining hands to create the longest-ever autograph book, City youth pen record-setting notebook of love', in Vietnam to mark Valentine's Day on February 14th. A crowd of city young people gathered at the Youth Cultural House Sunday to write Valentine's wishes to their sweethearts on a 100-meter-long paper book. Visitors can find in the record-setting book the innocent and lovely sentences, "My love, how timid you are! But I love you for that", or "I'm still looking

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