This annual provincial-level cultural and tourism event has become a distinctive cultural and tourism destination, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the traditional cultural values of the ethnic groups in Lao Cai.
The 2026 Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Festival holds special significance as it coincides with the fifth anniversary of the inscription of the Art of Thai Xoe on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It serves as an occasion to evaluate the results of preserving and promoting the value of Thai Xoe since its recognition and to honour the cultural identities of the Northwest ethnic groups.
According to the Organising Committee, the series of activities includes: the 2026 Northwest Tourism Fair and a space for promoting and connecting OCOP products at Gold Field Square, Nghia Lo Ward; as well as the “Colours of Northwest Culture” space and the “Northwest and Lao Cai Tourism Photography Exhibition – A Convergence of Northwest Colours”, both held at Gold Field Square, Nghia Lo Ward, from October 15 to October 21, 2026.
Events include a street parade along the route spanning Dien Bien Street, Nguyen Quang Bich Street, and the Nghia Lo Ward Stadium, as well as the opening ceremony of the 2026 Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Festival at the Nghia Lo Ward Stadium.
Additionally, throughout October 2026, a series of vibrant supporting activities will take place across local communes and wards. These include cultural and tourism experiences such as “A Day Living in a Thai Village”; Thai cultural and community-based tourism experiences in Nghia Lo Ward; competitions in ethnic sports and folk games (including crossbow shooting, tug-of-war, stick pushing, tung con (cloth ball throwing) and stilt walking; and the “Love Songs of the Northwest” art programme, alongside the launch of a core Culture, Arts, and Sports Club in Cau Thia Ward.
According to Nong Viet Yen, Director of the Lao Cai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the 2026 Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Festival embodies a spirit of innovation. It has been meticulously prepared to harmoniously combine heritage preservation, the promotion of cultural identity, and sustainable tourism development.
A highlight of the opening ceremony is the art programme titled “Xoe Thai – A Full Circle of Love”. Elaborately staged and rich in cultural identity, the programme will feature a sophisticated blend of traditional elements and modern artistic expression.
