Thousands of people will flock to the Wanneroo Showgrounds today (February 8) and tomorrow (February 9) to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year festival in sensational style.
Premier Mark McGowan and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Paul Papalia will be among festival goers who will join in official formalities today, to kickstart the Tet festival and welcome the Year of the Pig.
Tet, is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, formally known as Tet Nguyen Dan or Festival of the First Morning, is the most important festival of the year for the Vietnamese community.
There are more than 15,800 Vietnam-born people who call Western Australia home and nearly 22,000 people with Vietnamese heritage. They will be joined by Western Australians of all backgrounds at this two-day family friendly festival, which will feature traditional dancing, food and fireworks.
The McGowan Government is proud to support the Tet festival with $45,000 via the Office of Multicultural Interests, Lotterywest and Healthway.
More information is available at http://www.omi.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"The Tet festival is a cheerful family friendly celebration which is a growing tradition and draws many people - Vietnamese Western Australians and the wider community - together to celebrate the most important cultural celebration for Vietnamese people living in WA.
"On this most auspicious occasion, as we welcome the Year of the Pig on the lunar calendar, I'd like to wish all Western Australians of Vietnamese heritage a very happy new year full of happiness, prosperity and good health.
"I'm pleased the State Government supports cultural festivals like Tet, which enables people of different heritages and backgrounds to continue celebrating their traditions."
As stated by Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Paul Papalia:
"Western Australia is fortunate to have a strong and vibrant Vietnamese community who have contributed significantly to the social, economic and cultural development of this State.
"The celebration of Tet is a joyful time for the Vietnamese community and an opportunity for all Western Australians to experience Vietnamese festivities.
"On behalf of the McGowan Government I wish the Western Australian Vietnamese community a very happy, prosperous and peaceful Year of the Pig."
