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.

A short story by Tống Ngọc Hân

A traditional market of the Mông ethnic group from northern province of Điện Biên will be held at the Culture-Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups between Saturday and New Year’s Day.

Various culture activities will be organised during the Mường Lò Culture Week and Mù Cang Chải terraced rice field celebration in the northwestern province of Yên Bái between October 12 and 14, according to Dương Văn Tiến, vice chairman of Yên Bái People’s Committee.

The Việt Nam Ethnic Groups’ Culture Museum in northern province has hosted various exhibitions, folk art shows, and traditional games over the weekend.

Large numbers of people have trekked to the remote rice terraces of the northern province of Yên Bái to see an installation in the form of a "crystal cloud" created from 58,000 shimmering beads.

The capital city has had three national intangible heritage icons recognised - the swimming festival in Đăm Village in Từ Liêm District, the spring festival in Trường Lâm communal house, Long Biên District, and Mountain God Worship in Ba Vì District.

Tết (Lunar New Year) will always be a time for Vietnamese families to get together, pay obeisance to ancestors, the Kitchen Gods and other deities, cook special dishes, wear new clothes, present gifts, visit friends and relatives. But now many families have chosen to travel outward, to other places in the country and beyond, giving the festival a completely different flavour.

More than 500 outstanding individuals from ethnic minority groups nationwide were honoured for their achievements and contributions to the country in a ceremony yesterday.

More than 190 households from the Mông ethnic group in Ea Rớt village, in the Krông Bông District of Central Highlands Province of Đắk Lắk have gained access to electricity and clean water thanks to a solar energy system supported by the Green Innovation and Development Centre (Green ID).