Yen Bai fest brews up more than tea

Yen Bai fest brews up more than tea

Suoi Giang District has more to offer than just crafts and a tea farm, and the mountainous district aims to prove it with a festival to promote its unique cultural heritage

The Mong ethnic minority people took the stage in Suoi Giang yesterday with a cultural festival, part of the week-long Muong Lo event.

The festival has awakened the sleeping beauty of this scenic district with activities including traditional music performances, games and a khen (windpipe) show.

As they partake in the entertainment, visitors can also sample local specialities like the unique tea from the Tuyet Shan, the famous century-old tea tree that can only be found in Suoi Giang.

The province's officials took this opportunity to announce a long-term project aiming to turn Suoi Giang into one of Vietnam's well-known tourist destinations within the coming 14 years.

"Apart from familiar sightseeing activities like the Nghia An Traditional Craft Village, Nghia Lo Tea Farm and hot springs, we hope the festival will successfully expose tourists to invaluable and virtually unknown cultural beauty, like Han Khuong, a traditional dance performed in tandem with the weaving of Thai women," said Lo Thi Huan, vice chairwoman of the People's Committee of Nghia Lo Town.

Since last Saturday, nearly 100 enterprises have congregated at Nghia Lo Commune, introducing commerce, tourism, fashion and cuisine of the three neighbouring provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Vinh Phuc.

Displays of traditional crafts and costumes of local ethnic groups such as the Thai and Muong have added vivid colour to the fair.

In addition to working hard since early this month to look its best for tourists. Yen Bai Province also joined hands with Lai Chau, Son La, Lao Cai, Hoa Binh and Dien Bien to prepare for the Culture and Sports Festival for northwestern ethnic groups, to be held on October 25-28.

Each group will bring their unique traditional sports and culture to the fest, which will be divided into five main elements: a costume show, camping, traditional rituals, an exhibition and traditional sports competitions.

The event is expected to draw more than 1,300 participants and aims to tighten the relationship between the 30-plus ethnic groups in the region.