Date: February 3 & 17, 2024
Venues: Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art and DAR Museum
Vietnam Society welcomed the Year of the Dragon with a vibrant Tết celebration at two of Washington, DC’s most storied institutions. The event featured the first public Hầu đồng ritual ever performed in the United States, honoring the Mother Goddess tradition and Vietnamese spiritual heritage.
At the National Museum of Asian Art, guests explored three meticulously curated Tết altars: Ancestral Feast, Kitchen Gods, and Spring Celebration. Each were designed to showcase authentic Vietnamese craftsmanship and ritual meaning. The DAR Museum hosted an additional cultural presentation highlighting the feminine divine in Vietnamese tradition.
Across both venues, more than 16,000 visitors experienced live performances, crafts, and storytelling that illuminated the heart of Vietnam’s Lunar New Year customs.
