The central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế is to hold a kite festival to honour the traditional craft of kite making that have been existed in the locality for centuries. VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Việt

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — The central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế is set to hold a kite festival to honour the traditional craft of kite making, which has existed in the locality for centuries.

According to the local Department of Tourism, the festival’s organiser, the event will gather the top kite making artisans in the province for activities scattered in a week, from June 8-15.

The festival will include several kite flying shows, an exhibition of beautiful kites and workshops on kite making and decoration. On the sidelines there will be songs and fashion shows, traditional games, a kite making contest and a kite painting contest for children.

The department explained that kite flying was once a key source of entertainment for children in the summer months. The festival coincides with the summer break for Vietnamese students in grades one through 12.

Exhibitions, shows, games and contests will take place in Tứ Tượng Park near the famed Trường Tiền Bridge in the city of Huế. Kite flying shows by popular artisans will be held at Ngọ Môn Square in the citadel on the afternoons of June 8 and 9.

Kite making and kite flying have long been considered an art form in this central province thanks to the diversity of kites created by local artisans. Local kites come in different sizes, types and colours and often resemble animals.

The key materials for local kites are bamboo and paper. Historical records show kite flying was a popular form of entertainment during the monarchic time in Huế.

The department expects the festival to introduce visitors to Huế's cultural diversity and provide entertainment. The event is part of the effort to make Huế busy with festivals year-round, as defined in the Government proposal to build it into “a city of festivals”. — VNS