Localities heartened by joyous spring festivals

Numerous locals and visitors flocked to Ky Phu commune, Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province, on the opening day of the provincial culture and sports festival on February 16.

Locals and visitors drinking ‘can’ wine (wine drunk out of a jar through pipes) on the opening day of the Ninh Binh provincial culture and sports festival on February 16.
Locals and visitors drinking ‘can’ wine (wine drunk out of a jar through pipes) on the opening day of the Ninh Binh provincial culture and sports festival on February 16.

The participants attended various arts exchanges, sporting events and cultural activities, which conveyed the unique cultural features of ethnic groups in the province, such as the Muong, Tay, Nung, Thai and Dao.

They also took part in exciting folk games including con (fabric cloth ball) throwing, walking on stilts, stick pushing, and crossbow shooting.

Meanwhile in the northern province of Bac Ninh, the annual traditional Lim festival officially kicked off yesterday in Tien Du district with an incense offering at Hong An pagoda.

This year’s event was among the highlights of a series of activities marking a decade since Quan Ho (love duet) Bac Ninh folk singing was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Visitors at the two-day festival were invited to savour the beautiful melodies of Quan Ho singing, taste indigenous dishes, and join various entertainment activities.

On the evening of February 16, the People’s Committee of Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province, launched the Bac Ha Plateau Spring Festival 2019 to advertise the land, people and nature of the district to visitors at home and abroad.

The two-day event features a photo exhibition on the land and people of Bac Ha Plateau and the reproduction of traditional cultural practices and rituals of ethnic groups in the district, including the fire dance of Dao people, the tug of war of Tay and Giay people, and the going to the field festival.