Festival of ethnic minority people in north-eastern region

The culture, sports and tourism festival of ethnic minority people in the north-eastern region 2010 will be held in Phu Tho province from April 14 to 17, coinciding with the Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary and the Hung Kings Temple Festival.
This is the annual event held on a rotating basis in Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Ha Giang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Quang Ninh and Lang Son.
Particularly this year’s festival is more significant as it kicks off a wide range of activities to celebrate the millennial anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.
More than 2,000 artists and artisans will bring special performances imbued with their own identities such as pan-pine by Mong ethnic people; dan tinh (tinh musical instrument) and then singing by Tay ethnic people and xoan singing of Phu Tho province which is now submitted to UNESCO for its recognition as an intangible cultural heritage of the humanity as well as dances by ethnic minority people in colourful costumes.
After giving performances at the opening ceremony, art troupes of the nine north-eastern region will join the incense offering at the Lac Long Quan Temple, Au Co Mother Temple, Thuong (Upper) Temple and the parade from Hung Kings Temple to Viet Tri city.
Apart from art performances, the festival includes various cultural activities such as an exhibition on culture of north-eastern ethnic minority groups at Hung Vuong Museum and an exhibition of paintings and traditional worshipping paintings of the north-eastern ethnic people at the Phu Tho provincial Labour Cultural House.
Each province will also introduce their culture through cultural camps set up on an area of 100 sq m each, featuring worshipping objects, traditional costumes, musical instruments and work tools. Such cultural camps are also venues to advertise provinces’ tourism.
Other activities like culinary and traditional costume shows will be held throughout the festival. Sports events introduces folk games of ethnic minority people such as wrestling, stick pushing, tug of war, crossbow shooting, chess etc.
The culture, sports and tourism festival of ethnic minority people in the north-eastern region, which has been held consecutively for years, aims to preserve and promote the cultural identity of ethnic minorities and also helps develop economy and raise living standard of the region as well as strengthening the national unity. This year’s festival is also flowers of art and culture offering to the sacred Hung Kings’ Death Anniversary.