The programme brings together around 200 artisans and members of ethnic minority communities.
Key events include a re-enactment of the highland market from 8 am to 5 pm at the Northern Highland Market, in the area of Ethnic Villages I: a showcase of the lion dance of the Nung ethnic group (a national intangible cultural heritage), along with interactive spaces where visitors can try making lion masks and figurines guided by Nung artisans from Lang Son Province; and a folk music and dance programme.
At the highland market, visitors can discover the history, processes, and ingredients behind signature ethnic dishes such as thang co (a traditional horse meat stew), rice wine, five-colour sticky rice, and traditional weaving. Culinary highlights include whole roasted pork and duck from Lang Son.
Stalls will also feature highland specialities such as bamboo shoots, vermicelli, rice, and unique spices like star anise, cardamom, and moc mat leaves. Ethnic cuisine includes dishes such as thang co, corn wine, roasted suckling pig with moc mat leaves, roast duck, rice rolls, sticky rice, grilled chicken, pork, com lam (bamboo rice), and grilled fish. Traditional textiles from the Muong, Mong, Thai, Tay, Nung, and Lao groups will be on display and for sale, including clothing, scarves, bracelets, and souvenirs.
The programme also recreates traditional festivals, such as the Pon Poong flower festival of the Muong, and excerpts from the cai Tao initiation ritual for Tao shamans of the Nung people in Lang Son Province.
In addition, at the A3 House, the area of Ethnic Village III, visitors can join interactive experiences of traditional cultural games, including chat choi chuyen (pick-up sticks), o an quan (mandarin square capturing), caro (five-in-a-row), and bamboo puppetry. Outdoor activities will include stilt walking, bamboo pole dancing, swings, seesaws, clay figurine painting, sand painting, and folk toys such as bamboo dragonflies, wooden fish, and carved wooden paintings, along with traditional costume experiences.
