HÀ NỘI — Tuyên Quang Province will host a cultural programme named “Travelling through heritage areas of Việt Bắc” and the 2016 Tuyên Quang City Festival from September 8-11.

The Việt Bắc region, which spreads over the north-western provinces of Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, Cao Bằng, Bắc Kạn, Thái Nguyên and Lạng Sơn has great tourism potential with well-known destinations like Ba Bể Lake (Bắc Kạn), Đồng Văn Karst Plateau (Hà Giang), Bản Giốc Waterfall (Cao Bằng), and Na Hang hydropower reservoir (Tuyên Quang).

This region is also the seat of the revolutionary government during the anti-French war and houses many ethnic groups with diversified cultures making it a destination for anyone interested in culture and history.

The programme promoting the tourism potential of the Việt Bắc region was started in 2009. It has worked effectively as new tours connecting destinations in the region have been built and the number of tourists have increased, according to Nguyễn Hải Anh, vice chairman of the Tuyên Quang People’s Committee.

“Through developing tourism, we promote and preserve local culture, remind people of the glorious history of the former base during the anti-French war and call people to protect the environment,” he said.

 “Last year, similar events attracted 100,000 tourists. This year, with a larger scale and more activities, we expect to draw in even more guests,” he said.

The programme will start on September 8 with a photo exhibition held at the Tuyên Quang Provincial Museum featuring the nature, culture and people of the northern mountainous region.

The opening ceremony will officially take place on September 9 at Nguyễn Tất Thành Square, Tuyên Quang City.

It will be a night of folklore culture and art performed by artists and a mass of actors from the six provinces in the region and troupes from Russia, Belarus, Thailand, South Korea, China and Laos.

Tourists will have the chance to enjoy Then singing, an ancient music form of the Tày ethnic group which is looking for UNESCO recognition as part of the world intangible cultural heritage.

As part of tourism promotion activities on the occasion, a food fair featuring traditional dishes and agricultural products of ethnic groups in the region will be held.

Another highlight will be the Tuyên Quang City Festival Night with a parade of big lanterns created by local people, based on characters in folklore tales, historic characters and animals associated with Vietnamese culture such as mice and buffalo.

Adults created big lantern models covering a lorry. Then chilren are taken aboard to join a parade around Nguyễn Tất Thành Square and Tân Quang Lake. This year the parade will see nearly 100 lantern models.

“This is a unique festival only found in Tuyên Quang City and is initiated by the local people themselves,” said vice chairman Anh. “The children have a feeling that they’re a part of the lantern during the parade.”

Besides cultural and art activities, a tournament of traditional sports that local people often play on the occasion of festivities and New Year will be held. They are tug-of-war, ném còn (throwing a ball through a ring for good luck), đẩy gậy (pushing sticks) and shooting with a crossbow. — VNS