(VOVworld) - Maslenitsa is the traditional Sun Festival of Russia. People celebrate Maslenista to say good-bye to the cold winter and welcome the warm spring’s return. The Maslenitsa Festival 2016 in Hanoi, held by the Russian Centre of Science & Culture last Saturday, wowed attendants with games, art performances, and delicious Russian food.

Zubtsova Elena Robertovna, Director of the Russian Center of Culture and Science, dressed up in the traditional Sarafan dress to welcome visitors to the Festival.

Art performances by Russian people living in Hanoi kicked off the Festival, including well-known folk songs…

… and of course the world-famous Kalinka folk dance.

The dance features the grace of girls and the strength of boys.

At the front gate, fun activities like “walking on stilts” challenged arriving festival goers.


Two teams of seven competed in a game called “The Russian Man”, which involved carrying two buckets full of water through an obstacle course.

Many people enjoyed the “Three legged race”, in which each duo races with one leg of each person tied together.

Games for children included the “Fighting with sand bags” game. Two young competitors battled each other with sand bags, while balancing on a chunk of wood.

Children were especially interested in a game called “Come get the prize” where they searched blindfolded for prizes like sweets or souvenirs.

A straw effigy of a woman called “Lady Maslenitsa” would be burned at the end of the festival. Her bag was full of written wishes, which people believed will come true if burned with the lady.

The food section attracted many visitors who wanted to try the Russian pancakes called Blini.

Impressed by Russian culture, many Vietnamese attendees dressed in the traditional Sarafan dress.

The games and other activities at the Maslenitsa Festival 2016 in Hanoi brought Russian culture closer to the Vietnamese people.