The first Soc Trang Culture and Tourism Festival in Hanoi takes place in April, 2024. (Photo: VOV)

The artists presented Soc Trang’s national intangible cultural heritages including Ro Bam, a classical dance-drama from the Khmer royal stage; traditional 5-tone musical instruments; the Rom Vong dance of the Khmer; and amateur music, a traditional chamber music genre recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Hoa ethnic minority’s lantern auction festival was also recreated. This is a long-standing ritual still practiced today. At the first full moon of the Lunar New Lunar Year, the Hoa people hold a lantern auction in the belief that, if they win a good lantern, their family will enjoy peace and prosperity throughout the year.

“The festival is usually held at the first full moon of the Lunar New Year in the hope of bringing good things to one’s family. All the money from the lantern auction goes to charities administered by pagodas,” said Ta Van Hua, a man of the Hoa ethnicity in Soc Trang province.

At the festival, visitors can observe craft demonstrations by skilled artisans, such as weaving and Khmer glass painting.

Huynh Thi Soc Kha, a Khmer woman in  Chau Thanh district, said she learned the craft of glass painting from her mother when she was 16. Glass paintings usually depict the Buddha, the 12 zodiac animals, the sun, and traditional worship images, she explained.

“The painting ‘100 years of happiness’, which depicts dragons and phoenixes, is a common wedding gift. Paintings which carry the traditional wish ‘May all your wishes be fulfilled’ are hung during the Lunar New Year Festival.”

The craft of glass painting of the Khmer people in Chau Thanh district, Soc Trang province. (Photo: VOV)

The festival exhibited images of cultural and scenic spots in Soc Trang and products of the province’s One Commune One Product (OCOP) program. Visitors were able to sample cuisine such as Bun nuoc leo (vermicelli with special broth made with fish sauce), which was recognized as one of Asia’s 10 best foods in 2023, as well as Pia, Cong, and Ong cakes. Pia cake making has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Ms. Huynh Phuong Kieu, head of the Tourism Management Section of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said after Pia cake making was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, Soc Trang province started a project to preserve the traditional craft village, restore the traditional cake making method and display it in a museum.

“Pia cakes are now available at fairs and sold to tourists,” said Kieu.