The highlight is a recreated highland market that showcases the distinctive cultural space of northern mountain ethnic groups, featuring folk songs and dances, cuisine, traditional games, and local produce.
At the centre of the market is the Nung people’s vibrant lion dance, accompanied by Muong cultural displays and demonstrations of traditional cuisine.
With more than 50 agricultural stalls, visitors may taste regional specialties and purchase brocade products from the Muong, Hmong, Thai, Tay, Nung and the Lao ethnic groups.
Within the market, 80 photographs will be displayed under the theme “Colours of the Highlands”.
A highlight will be the cat-lion dance of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in Lang Son Province, recognised as national intangible cultural heritage in 2017, and performed during the festival.
This ritual is commonly performed at festivals to drive away evil spirits and pray for good fortune.
Visitors can take part in making lion masks and crafting animal figures alongside Nung artisans from Lang Son.
The programme also revives traditional festivals, including the Poon Poong (Flower Appreciation Festival) of the Muong people, and presents excerpts of the “cai Tao” ritual, which confers rank upon Tao masters of the Nung people.
