Vietnamese ethnic groups’ cultural quintessence showcased in Hanoi

The annual cultural program entitled “Spring colors across Vietnam 2023” will take place on February 11 and 12 at Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hanoi’s outlying township of Son Tay.

Cham group from Ninh Thuan Province will perform the traditional Kate dance at the cultural program. Photo: Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism

According to the organizers, the program includes unique festival activities, typical folk games, traditional New Year dishes, and typical products of each ethnic group, as well as performances of folk songs and dances, among others.

The highlights of the program are the Kate Festival of the Cham group from the southern province of Ninh Thuan, a folk singing performance of the Tho group from the central province of Thanh Hoa, and the unique dance art Xoe of the Thai ethnic minority from the mountainous province of Son La - a UNESCO recognized world’s intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Visitors to the tourist site will also have a chance to join spring folk games like the Pao or Ball throwing game of Mong people from Mu Cang Chai District in the northern mountain province of Yen Bai, Cheraw dance, and rattan waving, among others.

An exhibition entitled “Traditional Festival at the Common House” featuring 30 photos-themed Spring festivals across Vietnam is also on the agenda.

In addition, annual activities for ethnic minorities continue to be organized, such as hat then performance (Tay ethnic group from Cao Bang Province), vi singing (Kinh ethnic group from Nghe An Province) or gong dance ( Ede de las Tierras Altas Centrales), together with the cultural programs of the tourist enclave.

The cultural event may help entertain locals and international visitors to Hanoi on the occasion of the festive season in Spring 2023. Photo: Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism

The gastronomic zones will offer great dishes prepared by ethnic minority groups, including five-colored sticky rice, dried buffalo beef, thang co (horse’s inner organs) hotpot, grilled pork, braised fish with sour bamboo shoots, and so on.  

The program aims to entertain visitors on the occasion of springtime, preserve and uphold the traditional cultural values of Vietnamese ethnic communities and enhance the great national unity bloc while promoting the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism as an attractive tourist destination among visitors at home and from abroad.

Located some about 40km from the city center, the village is considered a national center of culture, sports, and tourism activities, where the traditional cultural heritage of 54 Vietnamese ethnic minorities is kept and promoted. 

The complex features a total area of 1,544ha with seven functional zones. Among them, the zone for ethnic minority villages is considered the heart of the culture-tourism village.

So far, people from 13 ethnic minority groups have come from every corner of the country to settle here, including Tay, Dao, Muong, Thai, Kho Mu, Ta Oi, Co Tu and Khmer.