According to Director of the Hue Relics Preservation Centre Hoang Viet Trung, under the Nguyen Dynasty, the rituals marked the end of the Lunar New Year holiday and the start of work and normal activities.

The Neu pole was erected on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, marking the beginning of Tet. It coincides with the day when the Kitchen Gods are believed to ride a carp to Heaven to report on events from the past year.

It was intended to ward off ghosts and demons from entering the community during Tet, and guide the spirits of ancestors on the way home for the Lunar New Year festival. The custom is also practiced in some Asian countries besides Vietnam.

It was taken down on the seventh day of the first lunar month to mark the end of the Tet celebration.

Meanwhile, the seal opening marked the start of a new working year of the ancient central administrative system with the hope that the whole year will be smooth and successful and the country will be peaceful and prosperous.

During the New Lunar Year holiday, Thua Thien Hue province received 95,000 visitors, up 45% against 2022, After Tet, the province will launch the spring festival as part of the 4-season Hue Festival 2023 and expects to welcome more foreign visitors in the coming time.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, Vice Chairman of the Thua Thien Hue provincial People's Committee said: "During the Hue Festival 2023, we will focus on activities to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Complex of Hue Monuments recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. We will connect activities held throughout the 4 seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter to create a cultural landscape typical of Hue to attract the audience, especially foreign visitors."