Mông ethnic women perform a traditional dance. Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day 2026, an event dedicated to honouring artisans and ethnic minority communities for their role in safeguarding cultural heritage. — Photo baochinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — More than 300 people from 54 ethnic groups across the country will gather to celebrate and showcase their rich cultural traditions at the Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day 2026.

Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the three‑day festival will run from April 17 to 19 at the Vietnamese Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village in Hà Nội’s suburban Đoài Phương Commune.

The programme offers a vibrant blend of cultural celebration, exchange and hands‑on experiences.

Its purpose is to honour the role of artisans and ethnic minority communities in safeguarding traditional values, while encouraging greater public awareness and responsibility in preserving and advancing a Vietnamese culture that is both modern and deeply rooted in national identity.

To bring this vision to life, a wide range of activities will recreate and present rituals, festivals and customs, allowing visitors to gain deeper insight and directly experience the richness of diverse cultural traditions.

One highlight is the presentation of cultural heritage from different localities.

Among the most notable are the Cultural Exchange Festival of Ethnic Groups in Vĩnh Long Province; the Cultural Colours of the Chu Ru people in Lâm Đồng; the Cultural Colours of the Thái people in Thanh Hóa; and the Cultural Colours of the Tày people in Quảng Ninh.

A ritual parade at the Ok Om Bok Festival (Moon Worship) of the Khmer people, vividly reenacted as part of the celebrations. — Photo homestory.com.vn

Complementing these are the reenactments of emblematic rituals and festivals: the Ok Om Bok Festival (Moon Worship) of the Khmer in Vĩnh Long; the New Rice Celebration (Mơ nhum bok koh) of the Chu Ru in Lâm Đồng; the Double Wedding Ceremony of the Thái in Thanh Hóa; and the initiation ritual of receiving and teaching disciples (Son Tràng) of the Tày in Quảng Ninh. Alongside these, visitors can enjoy folk art performances, traditional handicrafts, regional cuisine, and distinctive cultural tourism products.

Beyond the main programme, a dedicated community exchange space will provide opportunities for meetings, experience‑sharing, cultural interaction, artistic performances and campfire gatherings.

These activities foster closer bonds among ethnic groups and create a warm, festive atmosphere of solidarity.

The festival will bring together around 125 representatives from different provinces, including 40 members of the Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer communities from Vĩnh Long; 25 Chu Ru from Lâm Đồng; 30 Thái from Thanh Hóa; and 30 Tày from Quảng Ninh. They will be joined by more than 100 artisans and community members from 16 groups across 11 provinces who are regularly active at the Vietnamese Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village.

Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day, observed annually on April 19, is not only a celebration but also a platform to promote the distinctive values of ethnic communities.

It contributes to the preservation of intangible cultural heritage in tandem with tourism development, enriches the spiritual life of the people, and nurtures pride and responsibility in safeguarding and promoting the nation’s cultural identity. — VNS