Men from Mông ethnic group perform the khèn (pan-pipe) dance at the Việt Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đạt

HÀ NỘI — A series of cultural activities are taking place at the Việt Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism throughout this month featuring the unique cultures of ethnic groups across the country.

The events, which started at the beginning of the month in the Đồng Mô tourism area, Sơn Tây District, are part of the Đại đoàn kết tinh hoa văn hóa các dân tộc Việt Nam (Great Unity – The Cultural Quintessence of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups).

They are held to honour and boost the preservation of ethnic cultural values.

Folk songs, dances, cuisine, specialties and traditional customs of the groups will be on show.

The highlight will be an art programme entitled Huyền thoại loài hoa tam giác mạch (The legend of Buckwheat Flower), with stories about the familiar flowers in the northern mountainous region.

The programme, with performances by Việt Bắc Culture and Arts College and local artisans, will feature songs praising solidarity among ethnic groups around the country.
Ethnic minorities including the Mông, Dao, Tày and Nùng peoples will gather at a cultural area to show their unique cultural and culinary activities, such as performances of then singing and tính gourd lute by Tày and Nùng ethnic groups, bell dance of Dao, khèn (pan-pipe) dance by Mông.

Meanwhile, ethnic groups of Thai and Khơ Mú will present their traditional dances such as xòe, au eo and nhảy sạp.

Visitors will have the chance to join the artisans and local people to perform dances, songs and folk games.
In addition, ethnic minority groups will together reproduce their typical songs and dances as well as introduce different types of traditional food.

The unique dishes are meticulously cooked from natural ingredients, such as colourful sticky rice dishes, steamed pork, grilled chicken, smoked buffalo meat and sour bamboo shoots.
Visitors will also have the chance to improve their knowledge about ethnic culture by participating in ethnic groups' performances at the village, using traditional musical instruments and practising handicraft production. — VNS