(VOVWORLD) - On September 2 every year, ethnic minority people in the northwestern region, wearing their traditional costumes, are thrilled to participate in local cultural, sports, and entertainment activities to celebrate National Day.
 The Mong panpipe dance is often performed during National Day celebrations. (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) |
To welcome National Day, Giang A Phu's family in Son La province cleaned and decorated their house a few days ago. The national flag, which has been carefully kept in a glass cabinet, was taken out to hang in front of the house. Putting aside her daily farm work, Phu's wife prepared traditional clothes to wear on this special occasion.
For Phu and other Mong people, National Day is an important holiday to express their gratitude to the Party and to President Ho Chi Minh for securing national independence and freedom and a more prosperous life for the people .
“The Mong celebrate National Day in a very special way. Since August we have been weaving cloth to make costumes for that day. The villagers have repaired roads and clean their houses,” said Phu.
The Mong observe National Day on September 1 and 2. Villagers gather in large open spaces for cultural activities.
Boys and girls in traditional costumes perform traditional musical instruments, dance together, and play sports and traditional folk games, creating a joyful and united atmosphere, said Giang A Song of Son La province.
“Our commune have organized cultural and sports activities on National Day, which draw large crowds,” said A Song.
 Mong men participate in a competition on pounding sticky rice cakes, a specialty dish of the Mong people. (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) |
The Mong value National Day as their traditional New Year Festival, a time to worship ancestors, temporarily put aside hard work, take a rest, visit nearby relatives, and participate in cultural and recreational activities. Everyone, regardless of their age, looks forward to this occasion.
A Mong woman named Giang Thi Me told VOV, “After harvesting crops, I came here for National Day celebration and stayed all day. We had a lot of fun and even took a trip to see the glass bridge.”
During National Day, ethnic minorities and tourists flock to the Moc Chau plateau. To the sound of panpipe music, they immerse themselves in the traditional festivals, with the highlights being street performances of the “cap sac” (coming-of-age ) ritual of the Dao, the Mong panpipe dance, and the Thai “xoe” dance.
Haruna Abe Hana, a Japanese tourist, has this to say, “I’m happy to be at the Moc Chau Culture and Tourism Week, where I can see the unique ethnic costumes and local ethnic people demonstrating their cultural performances. I find it all very interesting.”
For the Mong in Son La, National Day is an occasion to revive their customs, promote local tourism, preserve their cultural identity, and uphold national solidarity.