Impressive Performance Kicks Off Cultural and Tourism Festival in Yen Bai
The opening ceremony of the "Muong Lo Cultural and Tourism Festival 2023" was held on September 30 in Nghia Lo Commune (Yen Bai province), featuring the stunning "Dai Xoe Dance" by thousands of performers.
The art of Xoe dance of the Thai ethnic minority in the northwestern region of Vietnam is believed to have been formed about 10 centuries ago. According to the ancient books of the Thai in the northwest, around the 10th century, Lac Truong, the chieftain in the Muong Lo region (present-day Yen Bai province) was the founder of Xoe.
He also helped the Thai to reclaim the new land of Muong So (in present-day Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province) and build hamlets there. Since then, Xoe has flourished and become very popular throughout the Northwest region of Vietnam.
More than 2,000 artisans and public actors participated in the "Dai Xoe" performance at the festival's opening ceremony over the weekend. They formed signature images such as circles, bamboo-shaped patterns (symbolizing the traditional weaving motifs of the Thai group people), brocade patterns, and traditional stilt houses.
As a form of connecting people’s aspirations with the divine world, Xoe is performed at ceremonies, weddings, festivals and cultural events of the community. It was listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 16th session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2021.
In his opening remark, Tran Huy Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Bai province, stressed that the Muong Lo Cultural and Tourism Festival 2023 is full of colorful cultural space and traditional experiences such as music performances and folk games. The festival offers opportunities for the locals and tourists to immerse in the endless circle of profound human values.
The opening ceremony of the "Muong Lo Cultural and Tourism Festival 2023" was held on September 30 in Nghia Lo Commune (Yen Bai province), featuring the stunning "Dai Xoe Dance" by thousands of performers.
Nghia Lo commune, the host of the festival, is an economic and cultural center for trade, service, and tourism in the western region of Yen Bai province, said Tuan. For many years, the festival has been held annually in Nghia Lo commune, contributing to building its cultural and heritage area in an urban context.
Another festival highlight was a street performance with 350 artisans of many ethnicities in traditional costumes. Here are some captures of the event:
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