(VOVworld) – Various activities are under way in the southern region to welcome the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year festival of the Khmer ethnic people.

Khmer ethnic people in Bac Lieu province are welcoming the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year festival. (Photo: VNA)

Soc Trang province held a get-together for 500 representatives who are Vietnamese heroic mothers, relatives of martyrs, war invalids, dignitaries of local Khmer pagodas, and Buddhist followers.

Tra Vinh provincial authorities organized a gathering of Khmer officials, outstanding policy beneficiary households, chief monks and the management boards of 142 Khmer pagodas there. The province has spent 25,000 USD to buy gift packages to the people.

On this occasion, An Giang provincial administration and Border Guards headquarters visited and congratulated locals.

Chol Chnam Thmay is one of the most important festivals of the year for the Khmer community.  It usually lasts three days and is celebrated mostly in pagodas. This year’s festival starts next Wednesday.