Thai New Year (Songkran Festival)
The traditional Thai New Year is celebrated in April each year. Thailand adopted this 16 __________ with the belief that the sun re-entered Aries and finished its orbit round the earth on April 13. In Thailand, this 17 __________ is celebrated for three days from April 13 to April 15. Before the 18 __________, people will clean their houses in the hope of casting away any bad luck of the old year, so that good 19 __________ will enter their new lives instead. Food and sweets will be prepared in advance for merit making and for treating guests.
The Songkran celebrations will begin with food 20 __________ to the monks who will walk along the streets in the early morning to receive food and other offerings. One of the most popular 21 __________ for young people is to convey their best 22 __________ to their elders by pouring water onto them or their palms. After this, it is time for children and young people to have full 23 __________ with water-throwing, dancing and folk games. Do not expect to escape the 24 __________ activities, these take place on every street in Thailand. They can be a welcome break to the 25 __________ of the dry season, but if you wish to stay dry it is best to stay indoors!
activities presentation water-throwing tradition celebrations
festival enjoyment heat wishes fortune

Khau Vai Love Market Festival - Beauty of Love
Khau Vai Commune, located in Meo Vac District, is 41 __________ to ethnic minority groups of Giay, Nung and Muong. The love market festival is held 42 __________ Lunar March 26th and 27th with the participation of a large number of local people. The festival features food and drink culture, song 43 __________ and folk games. Ethnic 44 __________, jewelry, ethnic musical instruments, culture and art publications are 45 __________ at the market, reflecting activities of the local people.
The story concerns two temples in the area of Khau Vai Market. Once upon a time, there was a boy and a girl born from two different places of the Dong Van Plateau. Since forbidden to get married 46 __________ the two families, they decided 47 __________ home to come and settle down together in Khau Vai, a prosperous land with green plants.
Since then, on every Lunar March 27th, Khau Vai has attracted couples of different ages, including those who seek 48 __________ for the first time.49 __________, most of them are those who love each other very much but cannot marry 50 __________ different reasons.

Nha Trang Sea Festival
Nha Trang Sea Festival takes place every two years for a week in around June in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. This is a colorful and dynamic sea festival which honors natural beauty of Nha Trang – the charming city overlooking the sea. The first Nha Trang Sea Festival was held in 2003 when Nha Trang Beach was proclaimed as a member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club. Coming to Nha Trang at the time of festival, visitors will be able to take part in various cultural and recreational events. First of all is an abundant opening ceremony by Vietnamese and international art groups. Besides, many interesting activities also take place during the festival like seafood competition, wine festival, beach volleyball, art kite flying festival, underwater group wedding, etC. The festival is also a great chance for tourists to know more about Viet Nam through special events. Nha Trang Sea Festival will definitely give you an unforgettable impression about Viet Nam’s charming beauty as well as time-honored traditional values.
Ha Long Carnival
The festival is attended by thousands of actors, dancers, singers, musicians as well as students. Most of them are the local residents of Ha Long Bay. The highlight of Ha Long Carnival is street parades with variety of colorful costumes and dance on wide streets along the coast. Moreover, a laser, sound and water performance combining with a sparkling aerial firework show is an amazing party of light and colour which tourists shouldn’t miss at the festival. Ha Long Carnival is the heart of the series of events within the schedule of Ha Long Tourism Week - a tourism promotional celebration which has been held yearly for six years. It’s usually taken place in a week in late-April to early-May. On the occasion of the 6th celebration in 2012, Ha Long Bay was officially recognized as one of New 7 Wonders of Nature of the world by the New 7 Wonder Organization.

Greeting Customs Around the World
USA
It is normal for men to shake hands when they meet, but it is quite unusual for men to kiss when they greet each other. Greetings are casual - a handshake, a smile and a ‘hello’ will do just fine.
UK
The British often simply say ‘hello’ when they meet friends. They usually shake hands only when they meet for the first time. Social kissing is common in an informal situation between men and women and also between women who know each other very well.
France
The French, including children, shake hands with their friends and often kiss them on both cheeks, both upon meeting and leaving.
Arab countries
In Arab countries, close male friends or colleagues hug and kiss both cheeks. They shake hands with the right hand only, for longer but less firmly than in the West. Contact between the opposite genders in public is considered obscene. Do not offer to shake hands with the opposite sex.
Hungary
Hungarians like to use the friendly greeting form of kissing each other on the cheeks. The most common way is to kiss from your right to your left. When men meet for the first time, the casual greeting is a firm handshake.
Belgium
People kiss on one cheek when they meet, regardless of the gender or how well they know each other.
China
Chinese people tend to be more conservative. When meeting someone for the first time, they would usually nod their heads and smile, or shake hands if in a formal situation.
Russia
The typical greeting is a very firm handshake while maintaining direct eye contact. When men shake hands with women, the handshake is not firm. It is considered gallant to kiss women three times while alternating cheeks, and even to kiss hands.
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Task 1. Match each word in column A with its definition in column B, writing the answer in each blank. (B)
A. not liking change, traditional
B. happening one after the other
C. looking directly at each other
D. to put your arms around somebody to show that you love or like him / her
E. shocking and annoying

A. It was the Christmas dinner party on Christmas Eve at our grandparents’ house last year.
B. It was a wonderful event, so the memories are still lively in my mind.
C. We put up the Christmas tree and decorations. We also prepared presents for all family members. We had a special big dinner and then we got nice presents.
D. We said that we would gather again next Christmas, and maintained it as our annual family event.
E. It was the Christmas party last year.
F. All of my relatives gathered at my grandparents’ two days before Christmas Day. It was a family reunion. Some of us only saw each other on this occasion.

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Dear Jack,
I hear you would like to participate in the Hoi An Lantern Festival, and I want to give you some pieces of advice for you to consider...........................................................
Best wishes
Phong