A living tradition of the Ha Nhi people
According to Lo A Sinh, Vice Chair of Y Ty Commune People’s Committee, Lao Cai Province, the festival combines age-old rituals with vibrant cultural activities, drawing crowds of locals and visitors alike.
In the days before the main celebration, households join forces to prepare: erecting worship shelters, tidying the ceremonial grounds, and re-thatching the communal house roof with grass. Each villager contributes, ensuring the community is ready for its most important occasion.
On the misty morning of July 18, the opening ritual of animal sacrifice was performed, invoking blessings of good health, prosperity, and harmony.
That afternoon, Choan Then village hosted cultural experiences ranging from stick-jumping and stilt-walking contests to demonstrations of weaving, embroidery, and traditional costume-making. Visitors sampled ‘banh day’ (sticky rice cakes) and admired a photo exhibition showcasing Ha Nhi culture and the festival’s beauty.
The evening brought a lively cultural exchange at the commune’s central market square, with music, dance, and performances reflecting the diverse ethnic identities of Y Ty. These new highlights enriched the festival, offering deeper insight into Ha Nhi traditions and daily life.
The following day marked the festival’s main ceremonies. From dawn, Ha Nhi families carried offering trays to the ceremonial grounds, praying for national peace, prosperity, and plentiful harvests.
After the rituals, village elders reaffirmed communal rules on forest protection, water conservation, agricultural development, public order, and cultural preservation. These principles, passed down through generations, underpin the Ha Nhi’s vision of a united, sustainable community.
Kho Gia Gia Festival not only preserves intangible heritage but also strengthens community-based tourism, gradually turning Y Ty into a sought-after destination.
Festivities continued with folk games such as rope swinging, cultural performances, and traditional food tastings, creating opportunities for visitors to mingle with locals. The vibrant atmosphere highlighted Y Ty as a land of rich cultural identity and breathtaking natural scenery.
Leopold Alexander Modrakowski, a German tourist, shared: “I am very impressed by the meaningful and distinctive rituals of the Ha Nhi people. It is a truly special experience, and I will certainly tell my friends about Y Ty.”
Phu Che Tho, a cultural officer in Choan Then, noted that the festival not only preserves intangible heritage but also strengthens community-based tourism, gradually turning Y Ty into a sought-after destination.
Heritage recognised and shared
In 2015, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognised the Kho Gia Gia festival as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Hoang Kieu, Deputy Director of Y Ty Commune’s General Service Centre, explained that the commune has worked to transform the festival into a cultural tourism product, preserving heritage while boosting local appeal.
Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in Ha Nhi culture, the majestic mountains, the famed “sea of clouds”, and the simple life on Viet Nam’s border. Though the festival lasts only a few days, organisers hope its impressions linger long after.
This year, Y Ty established seven working groups to present gifts to tourists at seven festival sites across villages and hamlets, ensuring the heritage is celebrated widely.
Organisers reported that the 2026 festival drew more than 2,000 domestic and international visitors—an impressive rise compared with previous years.
Phan Dang Bao, a visitor from Hanoi, praised the festival’s authenticity: “The best thing is that it has retained its original customs, with almost no outside interference. Tourists feel like participants rather than spectators, which makes the experience exciting and memorable.”
The Kho Gia Gia festival will be recreated during the upcoming “Y Ty Autumn Season 2026”, running from late August to the end of September. Visitors will not only marvel at the golden harvest and vast seas of clouds but also connect more deeply with the soul of Ha Nhi culture.
