ĐIỆN BIÊN — Measures to optimise the potential and advantages of the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên were the topics of discussion at a conference on Sunday.

A sidelines activity of the National Tourism Year 2024 - Điện Biên that began on March 16, the conference gathered several policy-makers and scholars to present their opinions.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà highlighted Điện Biên’s advantages in natural landscapes and the cultural values of 19 ethnic minority groups, and underlined the need for the province to make full use of its potential to create unique tourism products, and to call for investment and design cultural planning.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà speaks at a conference on how to optimise the potential and advantages of the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên. — VNA/VNS Trung Kiên

Along with strengthening the application of information technology in tourism promotion, Điện Biên should cooperate with other localities to create destination chains with Điện Biên Phủ being a highlight, he said.

The Deputy PM emphasised that the core factor for tourism development must be the preservation and respect of natural values.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng stressed the need to evaluate the current situation of Điện Biên tourism, thus clarifying its competitive advantages and uniqueness. He advised Điện Biên to promote tourism service quality by applying science and technology.

Meanwhile, Associate Prof Vũ Trọng Lâm, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Sự Thật (Truth) National Political Publishing House, recommended that Điện Biên build plans and strategies for the growth of its strong tourism forms, including community-based tourism, while promoting a friendly and safe tourism environment and ensuring the harmony between development and the protection of the natural environment, ecosystem and local cultural identities.

Dr Bùi Thanh Tuấn from the Department of Police Science, Strategy and History under the Ministry of Public Security said that Điện Biên has an important location in the northwestern midland and mountainous region and the country as a whole in many aspects, along with a natural beauty, glorious history, unique cultural identity, and favourable weather conditions.

These advantages are important factors for the locality to make breakthroughs in tourism development, he held, underscoring that Điện Biên should focus on building its tourism trademark and design more tourism products on the basis of the traditional culture of ethnic groups.

Distinctive dance of Điện Biên

The unique folk dance of Việt Nam's Thái ethnic minority called xòe Thái made a strong impression at the National Tourism Year 2024 - Điện Biên and the Ban Flower Festival in Điện Biên Province.

As one of the main activities at the event, the Xòe Thái Dance Festival was organised on Sunday at the provincial stadium, featuring hundreds of artists and attracting thousands of visitors to watch and cheer along.

Fourteen troupes from local schools, education departments and cultural clubs took part in the festival. — VNA/VNS Phan Quân

Fourteen troupes from local schools, education departments and cultural clubs took part in the festival, participating in two competitions.

In the compulsory subject, artists had to performance at least three dances with a duration of five to seven minutes.

Participants were encouraged to uses Điện Biên's typical songs and ethnic music in rhythm with their dance moves.

Troupes from Điện Biên Pedagogical College, Điện Biên Phủ High School, Provincial Ethnic Boarding High School, Điện Biên's Thái Culture Club, Thành Bản Phủ Arts Club had standout performances featuring the beauty of traditional moves.

A spectacular xòe Thái performance under the theme “Điện Biên – Flower Rendezvous” with the participation of over 2,000 actors and actresses, gives audience a deep impression of the xòe Thái art. —VNA/VNS Phan Quân

In particular, at this year's festival, there was a spectacular xòe Thái performance under the theme Điện Biên – Flower Rendezvous with the participation of over 2,000 actors and actresses, giving the audience a deep impression of the xòe Thái art.

The xòe Thái folk dance was added to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity by the United Nations' cultural agency UNESCO in 2021.

The festival was one of the activities to honour, preserve and promote this cultural value ​​and unique beauty of the Thái's costumes, popularising the heritage that has been recognised.

The closing and awarding ceremony was organised on the same day at the Điện Biên Phủ Victory Monument area where the best dances were performed to the public. VNS