(VOVWORLD) - The 11th Northeast Ethnic Culture, Sports, and Tourism Festival concluded in Lang Son province on Monday, after three exciting days of celebration. The event brought together representatives from eight provinces including Bac Giang, Bac Kan, and Ha Giang to honor and preserve traditional cultural values while fostering economic and tourism growth.
 Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung speaks at the opening ceremony. (Photo: VOV) |
The opening ceremony in Lang Son city on Saturday featured 600 artists, performers, and artisans. It showcased a special three-part art performance, each celebrating the rich cultural heritage of northeastern Vietnam.
Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said: "The cultural traditions, nurtured over generations, will continue to be bolstered and enriched along with the development of history, demonstrating the enduring spirit of unity, resilience, and aspiration to rise of the Vietnamese people, especially those in the Northeast. This legacy provides a strong foundation for the northeastern provinces and the nation to thrive in a new era – an era of rise."
 Products of ethnic minorities are introduced to tourists (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA) |
Ha Thi Bien, a member of a Then singing club in Lang Son province, said: "At the festival, we performed two traditional acts, Mo and Sli. The Sli piece reflects everyday life. It’s an honor to be part of this festival. We hope that people from neighboring provinces enjoyed our performances, which embody the cultural identity of the Nung Chao ethnic group. We hope to strengthen solidarity and friendship between regions to better preserve our cultural identity."
The 3-day festival included a music festival, a show of traditional ethnic attire, and exhibitions featuring regional cultural heritage.
"We enjoyed regional specialties, met friends from other regions, and explored the crafts of northeastern Vietnam."
"Everyone dressed in traditional attire, very colorful. It reminded me of my childhood. This festival encourages the younger generations to appreciate and preserve our ethnic heritage."
Held every three years, the festival honors the cultural values of the various ethnic groups, who contribute to Vietnam’s rich culture of 54 ethnicities.