Festival to feature ethnic cultural identities

The springtime festival, themed ‘Colours of spring from every corner of the country’, will be held from ​February 10-15 (the third to eighth day of the first lunar month) at the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups Culture-Tourism Village in Ha Noi.
The annual event aims to reproduce unique festivals as well as traditional cultural identities celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) of ethnic minority groups around the country, according to Nhan dan newspaper.
The festival will draw the participation of exemplary heads of villages and hamlets, intellectuals and artisans from various ethnic minorities. On the occasion, the Cham Tower complex and Khmer Pagodas will open to the public.
During the festival, visitors will have a chance to learn more about cultural characteristics, customs and preparations for Tet of Thai, Muong, Mong, Tay, Giay and Ede groups.
The ethnic minority people and artisans will also perform folk songs, dances and games, including nem con (a game in which boys and girls throw cloth balls), tug-of-war and dances with bamboo pole.
In addition, visitors to the festival can enjoy and learn how to cook delicious dishes and specialties served during Tet as well as make traditional handicrafts of the groups.
The festival offers an opportunity for ethnic minority groups to meet and exchange cultural values and daily life activities. It also contributes to honouring and preserving the traditional culture of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups.