The Red River – Lao Cai Festival 2025 is taking place under the theme “Where the Red River flows into Viet Nam” from November 18 to 24 in Lao Cai Ward, Cam Duong Ward and several other localities of Lao Cai Province.
This is the first year Lao Cai has organised the Red River Festival, marking the beginning of the Red River Festival Project for the 2025–2035 period.
The Festival is an important cultural–economic–diplomatic event, aimed at honouring the history, culture and civilisation of the Red River; fostering national pride; educating the tradition of “drinking water, remembering its source”; while also promoting socio-economic development cooperation and expanding friendly relations between provinces and cities along the Red River basin (Viet Nam) and Yunnan Province (China).
Within the framework of the Festival, visitors will experience the cultural space of ethnic communities; explore exhibitions of culture, tourism, photographs, artefacts and publications on the Red River; and enjoy folk rituals, folk songs and traditional costumes to appreciate the beauty of the land and people of the upstream region – where the Red River flows into Viet Nam.
The Festival also includes a wide range of activities in the fields of economy, sports, tourism and friendship exchanges, such as the Viet Nam–China International Trade Fair; a re-enactment of the old Coc Leu Market; and the international cycling race “One route – two countries”.
Notably, the Lao Cai Shan Tuyet Tea Festival “Tea fragrance above the clouds” will honour the quintessential products of the highlands and offer visitors profound cultural experiences.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lao Cai Province, emphasised the historical significance and importance of the Red River – Lao Cai Festival 2025.
According to Nguyen Tuan Anh, the Red River – Lao Cai Festival 2025 is not only a cultural celebration but also an important political, economic and diplomatic activity; contributing to the implementation of the policy on developing cultural industries associated with tourism, and turning culture into an endogenous strength and driving force for sustainable development.
It is also a platform for localities to exchange, cooperate and share experiences, while strengthening the comprehensive friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and China – two countries that share mountains and rivers, cultural affinity, common ideals, and a shared commitment to peace and development.
The regular organisation of the Red River Festival is a concrete step in implementing the Resolution of the first Congress of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term, looking towards to the 14th National Party Congress, reflecting a spirit of innovation, creativity and proactive integration, and building Lao Cai into a regional hub for trade connectivity and a leading centre of culture and tourism in the midland and northern mountainous region.
Speaking at the ceremony, Luoping, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Head of the People’s Government of Honghe Prefecture (Yunnan, China), expressed her pleasure that the Red River Festival and the China–Viet Nam Cooperation Week in the Red River basin are being held on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Viet Nam–China diplomatic relations and the Year of Humanistic Exchange between the two countries.
She described the Red River as a “bridge of friendship”, linking seven prefectures and cities of China with eight provinces and cities of Viet Nam, carrying with it the traditional friendship of being both comrades and brothers, and the shared aspiration to build a common future.
