LAI CHÂU Nàng Han Temple, a place of worship for a legendary figure known as "Nàng Han", or "Heroine" in the Thái ethnic minority language, is located in Phong Thổ District, the northern province of Lai Châu.

Thái girls dress in traditional costumes and engage in various folk games at the temple for the traditional festival, held every year on the 15th day of the second lunar month. On this day, local people offer incense, flowers, farm produce and speciality foods.

Festival participants wash their hands with water from the place where Nàng Han bathed before ascending to the heavens.

In the two-day festival, Thái girls and boys together play folk games such as ném còn (throwing a small cloth ball), kicking shuttlecock, walking on stilts and tug-of-war. Guests who joined the festival in the last day were offered with the food specialties.

The legend of Nàng Han tells the story of a goddess born into a poor Thái family, who led an uprising against the northern invaders, and after the victory, ascended to the heavens. She became one of six gods who have supernatural powers in the folk beliefs of the Thai people.

Thai girls and boys play tug-of-war at Nàng Han Festival held on March 24 - 25 at Tây An Village, Mường So Commune.

In 2007, Nàng Han Temple was recognised as a provincial-level architectural and artistic heritage site.

Nàng Han Temple was recognised as a provincial-level architectural and artistic heritage site in 2007.

Nàng Han Festival has been revived since 2008 by the culture authority of Lai Châu Province, after 60 years of being neglected. The annual festival aims to pray for peace, prosperity and good harvests. VNS