This was also the fourth year that Mong Cai City had hosted the Borderland Rose Myrtle Festival. Held over two days, May 17 and 18, the festival featured a wide range of vibrant cultural, artistic, sporting and tourism activities deeply imbued with the traditional cultural identity of the communities in Hai Son commune.
One of the key highlights was the “Half Marathon 2025”, which attracted thousands of professional and amateur runners from across the country eager to immerse themselves in the radiant purple bloom of rose myrtle flowers on the borderland of the Fatherland.
As part of the festival, there were sports competitions and traditional folk games, rice cake pounding contests, and community dance exchanges with neighbouring communes and wards.
In addition, locals and visitors enjoyed a range of exciting experiences at notable sites such as the national historical relic of Po Hen, landmark 1347, Po Hen fair market, Ma Thau Son rose myrtle hill, the 26-household hamlet, Pa Nai peak, and the poetic Trang Vinh lake.
Hai Son is a highland, border commune home to ethnic minority communities. Located 34 kilometres northwest of Mong Cai City centre, it boasts favourable conditions including a temperate climate, beautiful natural landscapes, scenic spots, historical relics, and rich cultural diversity among its ethnic groups, along with abundant traditional local products. Particularly noteworthy is the presence of National Highway 18C, which runs through the area and provides convenient access.
These are favourable conditions for Hai Son to connect with other regions in the province and develop its economy and experiential tourism.
Through the festival’s activities, the aim is to preserve, promote and honour traditional cultural values while introducing and showcasing the unique images, potential and advantages of the area. The festival also seeks to tap into the rich cultural heritage of the ethnic communities of Mong Cai City in general and Hai Son Commune in particular, thereby attracting more tourists and helping improve local livelihoods.
The Borderland Rose Myrtle Festival is a distinctive tourism product of Hai Son Commune, contributing to the preservation and promotion of unique cultural values among ethnic groups. It also creates a joyful and festive atmosphere that encourages the commune to successfully fulfil tasks related to economic, cultural and social development while firmly safeguarding the national sovereignty and security of the borderlands.
