HÀ GIANG - The Khâu Vai Love Market Culture-Tourism Week – an annual cultural event in the northern mountainous province of Hà Giang - will take place in Mèo Vạc District from May 1 to 3.

Vice Chairman of the District People’s Committee Trần Kim Ngọc said this year’s event would highlight the unique cultural identities of local ethnic minority groups.

Activities include goat, cow and nightingale fighting festivals, horse races and incense offerings at two temples in Khâu Vai Commune.

A photo exhibit featuring the beauty of Khâu Vai Commune, folk games and a dày cake (round glutinous rice cake) making contest will also be held at the event.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to witness the Nùng ethnic people’s betrothal ceremony, and enjoy traditional dishes of ethnic minorities from across the locality.

Visitors can attend an art performance on the sad story of a couple believed to be the origin of the Khâu Vai Love Market, established in 1919. 

Legend has it that a couple were deeply in love, but were forbidden to be together because they were from different ethnic groups. They then made the promise to meet once every year in the local market in Khâu Vai Commune on the 27th of the third lunar month (May 3 this year).

Since then, the love market, which is located 180km from Hà Giang, has been held once every year in the third lunar month.

At the market, ex-lovers are reunited, talk about their current marriages and warm up their lost love. Many husbands and wives arrive at the market together before they both seek their past partners among the crowd.

The hundred-year-old festival has now become a tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors from across the country and abroad. - VNS