A culture, sports and tourism festival of ethnic minority groups in Vietnamese and Lao border localities is taking place in A Luoi district, Thua Thien-Hue province.

A dancing performance at the opening ceremony of the festival in A Luoi district, Thua Thien-Hue province, on May 17. (Photo: NDO)

The event attracts more than 600 artisans, artists, and amateur athletes from both sides. They come from Vietnam’s central and Central Highlands provinces of Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Kon Tum, and the Lao provinces of Attapeu, Sekong, Savannakhet, and Salavan.

Opening the festival on May 17, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy said the event aims to honour and introduce the special cultural values of ethnic minorities while enhancing the solidarity, friendship, cooperation and cultural exchange between the two countries’ border provinces.

Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Laos Buangan Xaphuvong said the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation of the two countries are hard to be found anywhere else in the world. This festival will help reinforce cultural exchanges between Laos and Vietnam, as well as relations between the two peoples in general.

Activities in the festival include exhibitions of the localities’ culture and tourism products, arts performances, shows of traditional costumes and brocade making, reenactment of traditional festivals and customs, and a culinary competition. The programme also features traditional sports of local ethnics such as pole pushing, tug of war, and crossbow shooting.

VNF/VNA