(HBO) - As the most typical traditional festival of the Mong ethnic group, the annual Gau Tao festival takes place at the beginning of the Lunar New Year. The two communes of Hang Kia and Pa Co, Mai Chau district hold the festival to express gratitude to the heaven and the earth and pray for peace, prosperity and good health.
Photo:Tourists
and locals join the ball-throwing event (nem pao) in Gau Tao festival in Pa Co
and Hang Kia communes, Mai Chau district.
This year, the festival was held on a larger scale in a joyful atmosphere to
celebrate the Year of the Cat. It drew the participation of a large number of
visitors across the country and foreign tourists.
Xa Linh stadium in Pa Co commune was chosen as the venue for the festival which
opened with the presence of more than 6,000 residents and visitors.
According to Sung A Chua, Vice Chairman of Pa Co Commune People's Committee,
head of the event’s organising committee, the organisation of the festival
meets the aspirations and spiritual life of the people, aiming to honour
cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group. It also contributes to promoting
the image, people, history and culture of the highland region and speeding up
tourism development.
Erecting a bamboo pole, known as a neu tree, is the most important ritual of
the festival. It is erected on a large and flat ground which reflects stability
and is also a symbol of the sacred tree connecting heaven and earth. Shamans
burn incense and put offerings around the tree to pray for favourable weather
and people's prosperity in the new year.
This year's festival attracted a lot of visitors as it lasted for three days
with the organisation of many activities. Right after the opening of the
festival, boys and girls of the Mong ethnic group and tourists, hand in hand,
joined a Xoe dance to show their solidarity.
Visitors to the festival were also fascinated by folk games and experiential
activities.
Susanne, a tourist from Germany, said the atmosphere of the Gau
Tao festival is wonderful as everyone has fun and participates in interesting
games.
She described the trip as an unforgettable experience about the
land, people, and cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group in Mai Chau
district.
The Gau Tao festival offers a chance for the Mong people who work far away from
home to return to their homeland, to gather and welcome the new year.
Coming to the festival, visitors can enjoy cultural performances
imbued with the identity of Mong people in such games as throwing balls or
walking on stilts. This is also an opportunity for Mong boys to show off their
talent in dancing and playing panpipes./.
Boasting favourable transport system, stunning landscapes, and an array of wellness resorts, Hoa Binh has been an ideal antidote for relieving stress.
April 30th and May 1st with 5 days off is the ideal time for families to choose the relaxing destinations and find a peaceful place. Thanks to the advantage of convenient transportation, mountainous terrain with wild beauty, cool climate, the resorts and health care areas in Hoa Binh province attract tourists on this occasion.
Currently, the tourism products of Yen Thuy district are mainly the festival and spiritual tourism. In addition to ensuring a civilized lifestyle in the religious activities, the party committees and the local authorities at all levels always focus on preserving the value of historical, cultural relics and festivals associated with exploiting tourism strengths.
The picturesque scenery of Hoa Binh Lake has endowed its tourism site with a unique allure. In recent years, localities have been harnessing the potential of the lake area and domestic and international tourists have chosen the site for sightseeing and leisure journeys.
The Hoa Binh Lake tourism area is expected to become a national tourism site by 2030, focusing on developing synchronous and modern technical facilities, and high-quality and branded tourism products imbued with national cultural identities. The tourist site also aims to become the largest tourist centre in the province, and one of 12 key tourist areas in the Northern midland and mountainous region
On April 5th, in Hoa Binh city, the Tourism Association of Hoa Binh province and Tourism Association of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province jointly organized a conference to promote cooperation and tourism development. There was the attendance of Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.
