Culture, cuisine and craft festival kicks off in southern metro

     The fifth annual Ngay hoi que toi (My village’s festival) opens today at Van Thanh Theme Park in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Thanh District.
A variety of specialty foods will be on offer from around the country and visitors are invited to peruse handmade crafts at market-style stalls. Traditional music will be performed throughout the cultural festival, including regional folk songs of ethnic groups from the central region.
Organized by the Saigontourist Holding Company, the three-day event also gives visitors the chance to learn how to make bamboo baskets, mats, leaf hats, pottery, brocade, rice paper, and even a variety of Vietnamese cocktails.
A special children’s area lets kids make their own toys from clay, banana-tree parts, coconuts and bamboo leaves.
The festival runs February 20-22 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Tickets can be purchased at the park entrance and cost VND140,000 (US$8) for adults and VND100,000 ($6) for children.