TL;DR: At Tet, unicorn troupes go around dancing new year greetings and performing at pagodas; in Chợ Lớn the sound of the unicorn drum lasts until Tết Nguyên Tiêu (the Lantern Festival). From around the fourth day, when shops reopen, comes the peak season of the trade: golden-whiskered and platinum-whiskered unicorns dance before the Thần Tài altar, while householders hang lộc up high or set out formations for the troupe to solve.
What is lion, unicorn and dragon dance and how do the three forms differ?
Lion, unicorn and dragon dance is the collective name for a folk performance art made up of three separate forms: lân (unicorn dance), sư (lion dance) and rồng (dragon dance). The three often appear together at festivals and Tet but differ in imagery, number of performers and meaning. According to artisan Lưu Kiếm Xương, Vice President of the Vietnam Lion, Unicorn and Dragon Dance Federation, the unicorn dance combines drums, gongs and cymbals into an ensemble that creates a joyful atmosphere, and the unicorn represents luck, harmony and smooth fortune[1]. Folk belief holds that the images of lân, sư and rồng represent luck, happiness and prosperity, opening up good omens in the new year[1][3].
On the look of the lân, a VOV2 report notes that a lân danced at Tet must carry four noble features of the four sacred animals: a dragon's jaw, a kỳ lân's nose, a phoenix's brows and a turtle's tail at the nape[3]. A Báo Công an Nhân dân feature adds that performers divide into two schools: Nam sư, modelled on the movements of a cat and therefore soft and supple, and Bắc sư, modelled on the stance of a lion and therefore fierce[4].
Dragon dance appeared later than unicorn and lion dance and is divided into three types: silk dragon, made of fabric attached to a stiff pole for dancing; round dragon, made of stiff paper; and stiff dragon, used only for processions and carrying, not for performance[1].
Why do people invite a unicorn troupe to their home at Tet?
At Tet, people invite a unicorn troupe to their home to bring luck at the start of the year. The sound of the unicorn drum is regarded as a sign of good fortune. Chinese residents of Chợ Lớn believe that wherever the unicorn drum sounds, good fortune arrives there, so during the first days of the new year the unicorn drum is almost unceasing across the neighbourhoods, especially at temples[5].
Tết Nguyên Đán is the time when unicorn troupes go from house to house offering New Year greetings. Children and elders eagerly prepare red envelopes waiting for the troupe to come and dance, hoping for a prosperous start[1]. In the Chợ Lớn area, the unicorn drum continues until Tết Nguyên Tiêu, that is, the 15th day of the first lunar month[5].
Besides Tết Nguyên Đán, unicorn dance also appears at Tết Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival). Phan Kế Bính in his book Việt Nam phong tục (1915) records that children's toys at Tết Trung Thu included paper elephants, horses, kỳ lân, lions, dragons, deer, shrimp and fish, and that children paraded lanterns and lions, beat drums and cymbals until the whole street resounded.
How does unicorn dance at a grand opening differ from Tet?
Unicorn dance at a grand opening also involves inviting a troupe to perform, but the focus differs from Tet. According to Báo Thanh Niên, in the first days of the year the troupes of Chợ Lớn dance offerings at the temples and perform for local people; from about the 4th day, when shops and businesses open, comes the peak season of the trade[5]. VOV2 notes a feature particular to grand openings: troupes bring unicorns with gold and platinum beards, standing for gold and silver, to dance before the Thần Tài altar as a wish for prosperous business[3].
In Chợ Lớn, the finale of a performance is a "formation" that the unicorn team must unravel. Only after successfully breaking the formation does the team receive the reward, and the troupe's reputation in the trade grows accordingly[2]. Chinese residents are mostly knowledgeable about unicorn dance, so when they invite a troupe they set up trial formations that the troupe does not know in advance. The larger the reward, the harder the challenge[2].
A unique technique that every troupe must master is the Cao không hái lộc routine. In the past, to perform this routine, martial artists had to deploy the "trồng La Hán" (stacking people) movement to pluck the lộc hung high by the host right at the gate[2].
The routine was later reworked into "trúc thanh", using a bamboo pole so the dancer can reach lộc hung 13 to 15 m high; at the grand-opening show followed by the Báo Thanh Niên reporter, the lộc hung about 13 m up[2].
Who is Ông Địa in a unicorn troupe?
Ông Địa is the character who leads the unicorn in the dance troupe. In the Báo Công an Nhân dân feature, Ông Địa dances with the unicorn, waving a large fan, lulling it to sleep or waking it up[4].
Legend tells that Đức Di Lặc (Maitreya) transformed into a human and subdued a monster (the unicorn) that came from the sea to the shore to cause harm. Maitreya in human form, called Ông Địa, took linh chi grass from the mountain to feed the monster and tamed it, turning it into a plant-eating beast. Since then, each year Ông Địa leads it down the mountain to wish everyone a happy Tet[4].
This legend explains why a unicorn troupe always includes Ông Địa. Ông Địa is not only a humorous figure entertaining the crowd but also carries the meaning of taming wild beasts, turning ill fortune into good.
What is special about the unicorn troupes in Chợ Lớn?
Chợ Lớn is the cradle of unicorn dance art in Vietnam, with many troupes over 100 years old[5]. The Lion, Unicorn and Dragon Dance art of Ho Chi Minh City was officially recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2025[5].
Some long-established unicorn troupes in Chợ Lớn:
| Troupe name | Year founded | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Hải Nam Liên Hữu | 1953 | Originating from Hainan island (China), founded by Mr Sử Xương Càn, passed down to Mr Lâm Đạo Hưng[3] |
| Nhơn Nghĩa Đường | Founded by martial master Lưu Hào Dương to spread Châu Gia Shaolin martial arts[4] |
The Hải Nam Liên Hữu lion, unicorn and dragon troupe is based in an old apartment block in the Chinese neighbourhood in District 5 (before July 2025), Ho Chi Minh City. In the living room, the ancestral altar is placed in a solemn position, and on both walls are glass cabinets displaying medals, cups and titles the troupe has won[3].
According to troupe leader Lâm Dân, Hải Nam Liên Hữu was founded in 1953, the founding master was Mr Sử Xương Càn, later passed down to Lâm Dân's father, Mr Lâm Đạo Hưng. The troupe has competed in many domestic and international contests, and at an international contest in Malaysia it reached the top 10[3].
A 2009 Báo Công an Nhân dân feature, written from a meeting with martial master Lưu Kiếm Xương, head of Nhơn Nghĩa Đường, relates that the custom of lion, unicorn and dragon dance at Tết Trung Thu, Tết Nguyên Đán and Tết Nguyên Tiêu originated in China and gradually developed into an Asian folk dance art. Around the early 20th century, lion, unicorn and dragon dance followed Chinese immigrants into Vietnam[4].
At first, lion, unicorn and dragon dance was concentrated around areas with many Chinese residents such as Chợ Lớn. Chinese immigrants formed unicorn troupes mainly to spread martial arts, and few thought of making the trade a livelihood. His father, martial master Lưu Hào Dương, founded Nhơn Nghĩa Đường to spread Châu Gia Shaolin martial arts. That was the beginning, but later many students of the troupe took up dancing as a profession[4].
How do the reward-hanging and formation-breaking customs work?
The reward-hanging custom is tied to the formation-breaking act. The host or organiser hangs the reward at a height or in a difficult formation, and the unicorn troupe must unravel it to receive the reward.
In Chợ Lớn, unicorn dance has two lines: modern and traditional. Modern unicorn dance is now flourishing; with money one can open a troupe, and when performing they usually set up their own "formation" and unravel it themselves. Traditional unicorn dance still keeps its own discipline and rules in selecting athletes, dance routines and ultimate techniques, all the fruit of painstaking training[2].
Unravelling formations to win rewards is always an intense contest of wits and strength[2]. The larger the reward, the harder the challenge, and the troupe's reputation grows if it breaks the formation successfully.
The Báo Công an Nhân dân feature describes the prize as money tied in a piece of red cloth and hung with a cabbage or green vegetables, which the unicorn must climb up and take[4].
