The festival featured performances showcasing traditional attire from the province’s ethnic groups, including the Muong, Thai, Dao, Mong, Tay, and Kinh. The event attracted thousands of residents and visitors from inside and outside the province.
In her opening speech, Quach Thi Kieu, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, emphasised Hoa Binh’s rich historical and cultural heritage, home to diverse ethnic groups, with the Muong being the largest community. She noted the unique and diverse cultural and spiritual traditions reflected in the distinctive clothing of each group.
Traditional attire, a recognisable cultural legacy, embodies artistic and historical values. Each group’s clothing varies by gender, age, and social status, with unique decorative patterns and techniques symbolising their cultural identity.
However, traditional costumes are gradually fading from daily use, often reserved for special occasions like festivals or ceremonies. Many young people are unfamiliar with how to wear their ethnic attire correctly.
To address this, the province regularly organises traditional costume contests linked to cultural festivals, encouraging artisans and locals to wear customary outfits during events and performances.
The festival aims to promote the unique values of traditional ethnic costumes to both domestic and international audiences, fostering pride in the rich cultural heritage of Hoa Binh’s ethnic communities. It also provides a space for artisans and performers to exchange experiences in cultural preservation, strengthen solidarity, and support local tourism development.
