UNIT 5: FESTIVALS IN VIET NAM

A. PHONETICS
I. Capitalize the syllable that is stressed.
1. historian 2. commemoration 3. musician 4. accommodation
5. traditional 6. preservation 7. national 8. celebration
9. librarian 10. procession
II. Choose the word that has different stress pattern.
1. A. display B. worship C. incense D. ancient
2. A. electrician B. companion C. politician D. competition
3. A. festival B. offerings C. performance D. relative
4. A. information B. instrumental C. preparation D. ceremony
5. A. respect B. bamboo C. firework D. include

B. VOCABULARY
I. Fill in each blank with a word from the box.

worship preserve procession pray rituals

clasp incense cheering offerings respect
1. The ________ they prepared for the ceremony include a tray of fruits and a vase of fresh flowers.
2. People ________ their hands together in front when praying in pagodas or temples.
3. Many families in our neighbourhood do not ________ a certain god but their ancestors.
4. It’s not true that visitors are always allowed to burn ________ or candles in a Buddhist pagoda.
5. They want to ________ traditional values of the festival while promoting it to attract visitors.
6. The ________ passed along the street on the first day of the festival, and people came in flocks to
see it.
7. We should ________ for those who are not so fortunate as ourselves - the sick, the old and the
needy.
8. Many of intangible heritages are expressed in religious ________, traditional festivals and art forms.
9. When visiting a local village, it is important for tourists to ________ its customs and traditions.
10. The audience began clapping and ________ the moments the dancers appeared on stage.
II. Choose the correct answer to complete the sentences.
1. My parents always celebrate their wedding ________ by going out to dinner. (anniversary/ reunion)
2. There will be some ethnic fashion ________ during the Hoa Ban Festival this year. (ceremonies/
shows)
3. Lighting incense on the altar is a popular practice in most sacred ________. (rituals/ performances)
4. If you visit Hoi An on the 15th day of a lunar month, you might see floating ________ on Hoai
river. (lanterns/ markets)
5. Lots of people comes to the pagoda to pray for good health, ________ and a prosperous new year.
(good fortune/ offerings)
6. At the reunion they greet, ________ hands, exchange news and take photos of each other. (clasp/
shake)
7. One of their traditions is that every family has a live ________ tree at Tet. (kumquat/ coconut)

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8. Along the entrance to the festival site, bamboo fences were built with huge bamboo ________.
(swings/ archways)
9. Is Kitchen ________ Day celebrated on the 23rd day of the last lunar month? (God/ Hero)
10. ________ rice flakes are flat, light and dry flakes which are a speciality of the Khmer. (Sticky/
Green)
III. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.
1. The Giong Festival is held every year to commemorate ________ Giong.
A. Ancestor B. Saint C. God D. Hero
2. A group of dancers perform a welcome dance when the ________ arrives at the Cham tower in the
Kate Festival.
A. procession B. commemoration C. celebration D. participation
3. At the ________, fishermen in Quang Nam pray for good fortune in every fishing.
A. Cow Racing Festival B. Le Mat Snake Festival
C. Whale Festival D. Elephant Race Festival
4. The elephant race is the ________ part of the Elephant Race Festival in Don Village.
A. oriental B. ancient C. sporting D. essential
5. For the Khmer people, the ceremony of launching the ________ called Ghe Ngo is a special event.
A. boat B. gong C. lantern D. swing
6. One of the most significant events in Viet Nam, the _______ has become a national holiday since
2007.
A. Mid-Autumn Festival B. Hung King Temple Festival
C. Vietnamese Teachers’ Day D. International Children’s Day
7. The ________ is the first person to enter the home of a household on New Year’s Day.
A. first-comer B. new comer C. first-footer D. first guest
8. Visitors can enjoy the ________ of the most skilled lien anh and lien chi at the Lim Festival.
A. cheering B. singing C. swinging D. wrestling
9. Tug-of-war is among the folk games that attract numerous participants and ________ of supporters.
A. musicians B. racers C. crowds D. riders
10. Artists of Hue royal court music want to ________ and develop its techniques and systems for
future generations.
A. preserve B. perform C. pray D. respect
IV. Write the correct form of the word in brackets.
1. A ________ of alumni has been a regular event in our school since 2012. (reunite)
2. The teachers and students have been specially prepared for the ________ occasion. (festival)
3. A monument was built to remember brave ________ who died for their country. (hero)
4. They set a record by organizing a folk dance ________ with 5,000 participants. (perform)
5. Last Saturday they had a ________ dinner for their wedding anniversary. (celebrate)
6. The Hung King Temple Festival is very ________ since thousands of people come to join in cultural
activities. (crowd)
7. They encouraged all efforts aimed at the ________ of local festivals. (preserve)
8. At Tet, Huong pagoda are usually full of people performing ceremonies and ________. (pray)
9. The audiences showed their approval in the singing contest by ________ loudly. (cheer)

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10. ________, our team lost the tug-of-war game in the festival last year. (fortune)

C. GRAMMAR
I. Choose the word in brackets to complete compound sentences.
1. The organizer had planned the opening ceremony, ________ it was held later than expected. (but/
however)
2. Tet is the longest holiday in Viet Nam; ________, it is the best occasion in the year for many family
members to reunite. (moreover/ and)
3. We are at least half an hour early for the show, ________ a big crowd has already gathered. (so/ yet)
4. Hoi An has its uniqueness in every corner, ________ it has amazing traditional festivals. (and/ or)
5. This event is about a traditional ritual; ________, the participants must wear traditional clothes.
(nevertheless/ therefore)
6. The music event was held in the school, ________ lots of audience were students. (but/ so)
7. Most students decorated their camp with flowers; ________, we decorated our camp with lanterns.
(moreover/ however)
8. The firework displays are beautiful, ________ they attracts most of children in the town. (so/ but)
9. You should buy the tickets in advance; ________, there might be a riot of people. (otherwise/
moreover)
10. My brother went to the Nha Trang Festival, ________ he stayed there for two days. (or/ and)
II. Fill in the blanks with ALTHOUGH/ EVEN THOUGH, BECAUSE, IF, WHEN, WHILE to
complete complex sentences.
1. Children wait for Full Moon Festival ________ they often get gifts from their parents.
2. ________ visitors join in a tour of the Mekong Delta, they can visit Cai Rang floating market to see
the river life.
3. ________ the ceremony was supposed to be outside, rains moved it inside the building.
4. You will get a great feeling of the celebration ________ you come there during the festive time.
5. ________ some people were praying with sticks of incense, others were making the procession
outside the temple.
6. I was watching the cow race in An Giang Province with my parents ________ you called me.
7. ________ Christmas is a religious practice, non-Christians celebrate it in their cultures.
8. They cancelled the anniversary ________ the deathly virus was infecting over the town.
9. ________ you plan to visit Da Nang or Hoi An, you shouldn’t miss Hoi An Lantern Festival.
10. Participants show their gratitude to the Gods ________ wishing for good health in the new year.
III. Combine sentences using the words in brackets.
1. Chloe likes Huong Pagoda Festival. She dislikes travelling to crowded places. (however)

2. This moon cake is made from meat, egg and dried fruit. It is sweet and good tasting. (so)

3. Mid-Autumn Festival was primarily for children. It now can be enjoyed by adults. (even though)

4. Celia had enjoyed the festival. She recommended it to her friends. (therefore)

5. You consider yourself a culture enthusiast. You shouldn’t miss Hue Arts Festival. (if)

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6. Children often parade on the streets. They are singing and carrying colourful lanterns. (while)

7. Fred knows most of Vietnamese festivals. He has never enjoyed the Hung King Temple Festival
(although)

8. We visited Hoi An at night. We had an exciting experience by releasing lanterns from a boat.
(when)

9. Tet is an important holiday in Viet Nam. It has special features, meanings and priceless traditions.
(because)

10. Hung King Temple Festival does not mark the death of any specific Hung King. It honours the
founders of the nation. (but)

IV. Choose the best answer to complete the sentences.

1. This festival has folk games; _______, there will be crowds of supporters.
A. moreover B. however C. so D. therefore
2. They like Christmas season, _______ we prefer Tet holiday.
A. and B. yet C. but D. while
3. _______ you are a guest at the wedding, you should wear nicely and bring a gift.
A. Because B. If C. When D. Even though
4. They follow lunar calendar, _______ the full moon is usually considered a significant time.
A. therefore B. so C. and D. when
5. _______ the event takes place in various places, its main activities are the same.
A. But B. However C. Although D. Yet
6. During the Whale Festival, the villagers make several offerings _______ praying for successful
fishing.
A. while B. and C. if D. even though
7. _______ the cow racers came close to the finishing line, the cheering became louder.
A. When B. Although C. Because D. While
8. The Hung King Temple Festival began as a local holiday; _______, it has been recognized as a
national holiday since 2007.
A. moreover B. therefore C. otherwise D. however
9. Tet is called Lunar New Year _______ the holiday goes according to the lunar calendar.
A. because B. yet C. therefore D. if
10. They prepare delicious food for the ceremony; _______, the offerings also include other
agriculture products.
A. or B. but C. moreover D. otherwise

V. Choose the word or phrase that needs correcting.

1. In my place people celebrate New Year, Christmas, Valentines; but, there is no Halloween.
A B C D

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2. Lots of people come to Huong Pagoda Festival because it’s one of the most famous festival.
A B C D
3. Cau Ngu Festival in Hue organized every three years, so visitors have to check the
A B C D
time carefully.
4. While darkness falls, the children carry their lanterns and parade under the full moon.
A B C D
5. The spirit of New Year continues until the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of first
A B C D
lunar month.
6. At the nights of Hue Festival, Perfume River became the scene for incredible arts shows.
A B C D
7. Not only the locals, but also foreign tourists are warm welcomed to join in this special
A B C D
festival.
8. Before and during the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the joyful activities are lion dance.
A B C D
9. After a year of working hard, the Nung people hold Lung Tung Festival to wish for a
A B C
wealthy new year and to meet each other.
D
10. Tet is coming, and we are going to prepare food and decorating our house to welcome it.
A B C D

D. SPEAKING
I. Write questions for the underlined parts.
1. They often organize a Ghe Ngo race in the Ok Om Bok Festival.

2. I like Hoi An Lantern Festival more than Mid-Autumn Festival.

3. The Hung King Temple Festival takes place on the 10th day of the third lunar month.

4. No, they don’t use a real snake in the Le Mat Snake Festival.

5. The Cow Racing Festival is held in An Giang Province.

6. About ten thousand visitors came to the flower festival last year.

7. Their ritual often begins with an offering of incense.

8. I came to Hue Festival because I wanted to learn about royal court music.

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II. Complete the conversation using the sentences from the box.

It's a pleasure.
Is it your traditional holiday that comes after the New Year?
They will go shopping for food, drinks, furniture, clothes, gifts, etc.
It's the time for family reunion.
We will invite you to our place, so you can enjoy Tet with us.
Do you see that the streets are more crowded these days, Phong?
This would be the busiest time in a year.
Maybe I should stay in Viet Nam this time to experience Tet.

Daniel: (1) _____________________________

Phong: Yes, I do. That’s because people are preparing for Tet.
Daniel: Tet? I once heard about it. (2) _____________________________
Phong: Yes. Tet follows the lunar calendar and this year Tet comes sooner than previous years.
Daniel: (3) _____________________________Everybody is in a hurry.
Phong: Yes, they are. There are lots of things for us to do because this is the longest holiday in the
year. Now people have only two weeks left to prepare for Tet. They are trying to finish all
work before enjoying the holiday. (4) _____________________________
Daniel: What do you usually do during Tet?
Phong: We visit our relatives and friends to exchange best wishes. (5)
_________________________
Daniel: Sounds lots of fun. (6) _____________________________
Phong: Yes, you should. (7) _____________________________
Daniel: That would be great. Thank you very much.
Phong: (8) _____________________________

E. READING
I. Read the passage and decide whether the statements are TRUE or FALSE.
Mid-Autumn Festival, also called Full Moon Festival, is the holiday that people, especially
children, get excited about weeks in advance. It’s typically on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month,
which usually falls in September or October according to Gregorian calendar.
When Mid-Autumn Festival is around the corner, parents culturally prepare a mooncake feast for
children. The festival is also a special event for family reunions. During the festival, family members
usually gather and make offerings to their ancestors, then delightfully enjoy mooncakes with tea while
admiring the full moon. On this occasion, people also buy mooncakes and tea as a gift to their
relatives, friends, and others.
Apart from having a tasty feast altogether as a family, adults frequently get the nicest lanterns for
their children. When the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming, a lot of funny masks and lanterns with
various shapes are carefully made. The red star-shaped lantern is a symbol of this festival. It is made
from bamboo sticks and coloured-transparent papers, both of which are cheap materials so that anyone
can afford to have one. The image of the children holding a star-shaped lantern and having fun with
friends in the festival is still the own identity of Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival that cannot be found
anywhere else.

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1. The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of September or October. ________
2. Children look forward to the Mid-Autumn Festival weeks in advance. ________
3. The mooncake feast is only for children during the festival time. ________
4. We can show our love to others by giving them a mooncake in the festival. ________
5. Adults always make the nicest lanterns for their children when the festival comes. ________
6. There are a lot of funny masks and lanterns, but parents can only buy the red star-shaped lanterns.
________
7. The red star-shaped lanterns are cheap, so everyone can get one. ________
8. The Mid-Autumn Festival in Viet Nam has changed its identity as a children’s festival. ________
II. Fill in each blank with a word from the box.
coming folk burned lunar offerings preparations altar ends

Vietnamese families prepare their homes for the (1) ________ of the prosperous New Year with
thorough cleaning and decoration. (2) ________ begin about ten days before the New Year. It is during
this time that the Vietnamese believe Ong Tao comes in to serve as the Kitchen God. As the old year
(3) ________, it is believed that he discusses the family’s situation with the Jade Emperor, the King of
Heaven.
Traditionally, Ong Tao returns to heaven on the 23rd day of the 12th month by (4) ________
calendar. His departure is marked by a modest ceremony where (5) ________ such as clothing, shoes,
paper money are (6) ________ to help on his journey to Heaven. Due to his status in Vietnamese
culture, Ong Tao is a prominent character in many (7) ________ plays. He is considered a messenger
from heaven, so often writers will depict the living conditions, problems, and solutions that need to be
addressed by a family in their work. Ong Tao is regarded as a family member, and various prayers and
offerings are brought to him at the family (8) ________.

F. WRITING
I. Write complete sentences using the cues given.
1. Because/ they/ couldn’t buy/ tickets/ show,/ they/ watched/ it/ TV

2. Elephant Race Festival/ hold/ forests/ near/ Serepok River, Dak Lak Province

3. When/ racing cows/ come/ close/ finish line,/ crowds/ cheer/ loudly

4. Although/ Tien Dung/ be/ daughter of/ 18th Hung King,/ she/ marry/ poor man

5. I/ enjoy/ hike/ mountains/ and/ explore/ caves/ during/ Buddhist Festival

6. She/ really/ want/ go/ Huong Pagoda/ and/ travel/ along/ Yen Stream/ boat

7. People/ often/ clasp/ their hands/ while/ they/ pray/ in front of/ Buddha

8. How different/ be/ Saint Giong/ other heroes/ Viet Nam?

II. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first one.

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1. If you miss the Lim Festival, you won’t enjoy the real quan ho singing.
Don’t_______________________________________________________________________
2. The Mother Pagoda is on the high mountain, but I want to climb up.
Although_____________________________________________________________________
3. People usually prepare for Tet holiday a month in advance.
Tet holiday___________________________________________________________________
4. On seeing the procession, they started to take some photos.
When they___________________________________________________________________
5. The fastest way to the temple is travelling by cable car.
There is no___________________________________________________________________
6. The reason why Bella joined the festival was that she had a project on it.
Bella joined__________________________________________________________________
7. Even though he made great efforts, he failed to win the race.
In spite______________________________________________________________________
8. Coming to crowded and noisy places always makes my sister excited.
My sister’s always_____________________________________________________________