Ha Giang (VNA) – Festivals featuringpeach flowers and the culture of the H’mong ethnic group will be held in MeoVac district, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang from February 21 –22 (the sixth and seventh days of the first lunar month).

According to Mua Thi Hong Sinh, Vice Chairwomanof the district People’s Committee, numerous activities will take place duringthe festive time, including the Gau Tao spring festival, contests of nem con(throwing a ball through a ring high above the ground), group panpipe dances,and peach flowers festival.

Visitors will have a chance to experience daily-life activities ofH’mong people, such as weaving, grinding corns, making buckwheat cakes, making Khen(panpipe), among others, Sinh said, adding that they can also buy hand-madesouvenirs and enjoy local food.

The events aim to promote the traditionalcultural values of ethnic communities and landscapes in the Dong Van stoneplateau, thus luring domestic and international tourists.

Dong Van plateau was recognised as a member ofthe Global Network of National Geoparks in 2010, becoming Vietnam’s firstgeological park and the second in Southeast Asia.

Covering a total area of 2,356 km2, it is 80percent limestone and contains the fossils of thousands of species ofprehistoric creatures from 400-600 million years ago.

It is also home to over 250,000 people from 17different ethnic groups, who boast unique cultures that have been fostered overthe centuries. 

Recently, 14 archaeological sites were excavatedin Dong Van, Meo Vac, and Yen Minh districts, in Dong Van plateau, revealinghundreds of relics believed to appear in the prehistoric and prehistoric times.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organisation (UNESCO) re-recognised the Dong Van Karst PlateauGeo-Park in the northernmost mountainous province of Ha Giang as a member ofthe Global Network of National Geoparks for the 2015-2018 period.-VNA