The 2nd Mường Ethnic Culture Festival will have cồng chiêng (gong) performance.

HÀ NỘI — The 2nd Mường Ethnic Culture Festival will take place from October 29 to 31 in the central province of Thanh Hóa, according to Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 

Hundreds of artisans, performers and athletes from six provinces Hòa Bình, Sơn La, Phú Thọ, Bình Phước, Thanh Hóa and Hà Nội City will join the festival. 

An art troupe from Lao People's Democratic Republic is expected to participate in the festival, according to the organisation. 

This will be a chance to popularise Mường cultural values to domestic and regional tourists aiming at promoting tourism in Thanh Hóa Province. 

The 2nd festival is held to honour the culture of the ethnic group, which is rich in tradition. It will help preserve and promote the Mường identity as a united and diversified culture present across the whole nation. 

The festival is also an opportunity for the artisans, performers and athletes to exchange and share traditional and folk art and sports. 

It will contribute to raising awareness of ethnic people at all levels to preserve and develop Vietnamese ethnic culture meeting the country's sustainable development requirements.

The festival will include art performances, traditional costume shows, Mường cồng chiêng (gong) performance, craft demonstration, and cultural ceremonies . 

An exhibition entitled Đặc Trưng Văn Hóa Dân Tộc Mường Trong Cộng Đồng Văn Hóa Các Dân Tộc Việt Nam (Mường Culture in Vietnamese Ethnic Groups) will be held to highlight the festival and showcase the cultural lifestyle of the Mường community. 

Mường ethnic traditional costume will be displayed at the 2nd festival. Photos danvan.vn

Traditional sports vật cổ truyền (wrestling), tung còn (cloth ball throwing), bắn nỏ (cross-bow), and kéo co (tug of war) will be played at the festival. 

Tourism activities will be held during the festival. Domestic businesses will have the chance to survey community-based tourism and ecological tourism in Thanh Hóa Province. 

Booths will be set up to introduce products and promote tourism. 

The festival will be aired live on Việt Nam National Television (VTV), Voice of Việt Nam (VOV) and Thanh Hóa Television and Broadcast Station. 

The Mường is the third largest among 54 of Việt Nam's ethnic groups, mainly living in the north-western region. 

The Mường ethnic group is the fourth largest population following Kinh, Tày and Thái groups in Việt Nam. — VNS