(VOVWORLD) - Every spring, localities in the northern mountain province of Lai Chau hold festivals to express their gratitude to Heaven and Earth for bountiful harvests and other blessings, and their hope for a peaceful, happy, prosperous new year.
 Spring festivals in Lai Chau province attract crowds of visitors. (Photo: Khac Kien/VOV) |
A joyful spring atmosphere fills the highland villages of Ta Leng commune in Tam Duong district. From early morning on the main day of a festival called Gau Tao, young Hmong men and women in colorful brocade costumes perform traditional songs and dances to the accompaniment of panpipes (khen).
"Gau Tao is a traditional festival of the Hmong people, passed down from the past. I hope it will be preserved forever," Ta Leng resident Giang Lang Pao said.
The Gau Tao festival attracts many visitors from inside and outside Lai Chau province.
"I enjoy the lively atmosphere of the festival which reflects the culture of the Mong people. The locals enthusiastically participate in a variety of competitions and games," Bui Thi Tinh, a tourist from Hanoi, said.
The Gau Tao festival preserves the culture of the Hmong people and is an opportunity for people working far from home to reunite with their family.
"The festival is expected to bring happiness and luck. It’s a time to ask the deities for blessings in farming and husbandry," Hang A Lu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ta Leng commune, said.
The Thai people of Ban Bo commune, Tam Duong district, hold the Xoe Chieng festival in spring. Visitors can feel the sacred atmosphere of worship ceremonies, join in lively Xoe dancing with the locals, and admire the distinctive beauty of the Thai villages with their traditional stilt houses.
"This is the third time I’ve attended the Xoe Chieng festival at the start of a new year. The festival attracts crowds of people who come to pray for a year of favorable weather. I pray for success in my work and my life," Nguyen Van Trong, a tourist from Hai Phong city, said.
 The Xoe Chieng festival of the Thai in Ban Bo commune, Tam Duong district. (Photo: Khac Kien/VOV) |
The Xoe Chieng festival represents solidarity and a spirit of overcoming hardships to enjoy a happy life.
Tran Quang Khang, Deputy Director of Lai Chau province’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said spring festivals preserve and promote the beautiful traditional cultures of the local ethnic groups. “They also mark the beginning of the tourism season in Lai Chau."
The spring festivals in Lai Chau give visitors an unforgettable experience of the culture, traditions, and breathtaking landscapes of Vietnam’s northwestern highlands.