Nhạn Tower in Phú Yên Province which bears significant architecture of the Chăm, is recognised as a national special relic site. — VNS Photo Trung Thi

HÀ NỘI — As many as 2,000 performers and artists nationwide will gather at the Cultural and Tourism Festival of the Chăm People which will be organised in the southern province of Phú Yên on August 13-16.

With the theme of ‘Preserving Culture of the Chăm’ in accordance with developing tourism, the festival will also draw the participation of Chăm people from central and southern provinces such as Quảng Nam, HCM City, Ninh Thuận, Bình Định, Khánh Hòa and Phú Yên.

Speaker of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Thái Bình revealed on August 1 that this is the fifth edition of the festival. It will focus on introducing the culture of the Chăm people in accordance with promoting tourism.

“The festival will help improve tourism growth in the southern and central region as well as upgrading the spiritual and material life of the Chăm people by developing tourism as a key economy,” said Bình.

Fascinating activities at the festival include art performances, a fashion show of the Chăm’s traditional costumes, an exhibition on socio-economic development of the Chăm ethnic group, the introduction of traditional crafts and cuisine, as well as folk games.

Each participating location will showcase an exhibition introducing its own traditional handicrafts, cuisine, tourism potential and excerpts of Chăm festivals.

In the sports area, various games will be held such as wrestling, tug-of-war, volleyball and football.

The highlight will be a ceremony to officially receive the certificate recognising Nhạn Tower as a national special relic site at April 1 Square, Tuy Hòa City, on August 14. This ceremony also kicks off the festival. It will be broadcast live on Việt Nam Television and Radio Voice of Việt Nam.

Nhạn Tower is a part of Chăm culture in Phú Yên Province, the only of its kind still intact in the province. It was built by the Chăm from the 10th to 13th century on Nhạn. It is a quadrangle with four 23.5m-high sides. An altar inside the tower is a unique architectural Chăm feature.

Media and travel companies will attend trips surveying tourist destinations in Phú Yên Province, and a conference to connect local tourism and other south central localities. The Việt Nam Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and tourism departments at the participating provinces will host this conference.  VNS