Grapes and Wine Festival 2016 to open in Ninh Thuan

 “The Grapes and Wine Festival – Ninh Thuan 2016” will take place from September 29 to October 1, said Le Van Binh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee of Ninh Thuan at a press conference on September 14.
This festival will be held at Square 16-4, Ninh Chu – Binh Son Beach, Binh Son Beach Park, Amanoi Resort, Po Klong Garai Cham Towers, My Nghiep Textile Village, Bau Truc Pottery Village, Phuoc Binh National Park, Nui Chua National Park, Cham Cultural Research Centre and the Museum of Ninh Thuan Province.
The festival aims to promote Ninh Thuan’s people, landscape and image and introduce local specialties to Vietnamese and foreign tourists. It will also provide opportunities for grapes farmers, bussinesses and consumers to meet and seek partners.
According to Chau Thanh Hai, Director of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ninh Thuan, the festival, held at the same time with the annual Kate festival of the Cham people, also aims to promote the culture of the Cham following Brahmanism.
Seminars will also be held to call for support from foreign embassies and international organisations to ensure that the Cham Towers System and the Kate Festival are made world intangible and tangible heritage by UNESCO.
The main activities of the festival include wine and grapes fairs, conferences on wine and grapes and tourism promotion and the Kate festival. Street patin racing, walking, dragon dancing and kite surfing will also be held during the three-day event.
The central province of Ninh Thuan has the largest vineyards in Vietnam, with 2,500 ha mainly in Ninh Phuoc and Ninh Hai Districts and Phan Rang-Thap Cham City.
In February 2012, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP) issued Decision No.194 certifying the geographical indication of Ninh Thuan grape products, which helps raise the value of Ninh Thuan grapes on the market..