HÀ NỘI — Some of the country’s intangible cultural heritage will go on show at a festival in the northern province of Tuyên Quang on September 20.

This is the first time the festival has been held in the province, giving locals and tourists the chance to enjoy unique art performances.

The four-day event is expected to attract people from all over the country featuring globally-recognised Thừa Thiên–Huế’s nhã nhạc (royal court music), the gong culture of Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands), Bắc Ninh’s quan họ (love duet), ca trù (ceremonial singing) and xoan (spring songs from Phú Thọ Province).

Also in Tuyên Quang Province, the Thành Tuyên Festival is taking place, which is known as a festival of giant lanterns. It will feature a number of international delegations and embassies.

The annual festival will take place from September 20-23 to honour and promote local culture and art, according to Nguyễn Hải Anh, vice chairman of the Tuyên Quang Province’s People’s Committee.

The opening ceremony will be held on September 21, with an art performance.

Other activities include historic and cultural exhibitions, food presentations, sports and a conference about preserving and promoting intangible heritages with tourism development.

Thành Tuyên Festival started in 2004 when some families modeled and decorated a few big animal lanterns which were dragged along the street with a lion dance and song.

This was a big hit with children and adults alike and gradually evolved into the festival it has become today.

Families would make modes of fish, rabbits and dragons.

The festival also became a cultural specialty of Tuyên Quang and was recorded by Vietnamese Guinness Records as having the biggest lanterns in Việt Nam.

As the years passed, lanterns became more beautiful and more sophisticated with many new styles but not forgetting the traditional roots. Thanks to this event, Tuyên Quang attracts hundred thousand visitors.

“Beyond the meaning of a unique cultural festival, Thành Tuyên Festival is a chance to introduce the tourism potential as Tuyên Quang houses many beautiful destinations, cultural heritages and historical vestiges,” said Anh. — VNS