The 2023 Khai ha (going down to the field) festival, the biggest traditional folk event of the Muong ethnic group in the northwestern province of Hoa Binh, took place at the provincial level for the first time from January 27 – 29 (the sixth to eighth day of the lunar new year).
Hoa Binh (VNA) - The 2023 Khai ha (going down to the field)festival, the biggest traditional folk event of the Muong ethnic group in the northwesternprovince of Hoa Binh, took place at the provincial level for the first time fromJanuary 27 – 29 (the sixth to eighth day of the lunar new year).
The enticing festival featured a series of cultural, art,sport activities, and folk games, including a Muong Bi night market, Muongethnic costume fashion show, musical exchange, and demonstrations oftraditional crafts, among many others.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Khanhsaid the annual event, preserved by local people, embodies many traditional,cultural and historical values and attracts a large number of locals andtourists.
In 2022, the Khai ha festival of the Muong people in Tan Lac, Lac Son, Cao Phong, and Kim Boi district was recognised as a nationalintangible cultural heritage.
Locals join a ritual of going to the field to mark a new year of bumper harvest and prosperity. (Photo: VNA)
The festival, also dubbed as the ploughing or forest opening festival, hasconnection with the wet rice cultivation which carries a sign of civilisationof the ancient Vietnamese. It has become an indispensable cultural activity of the Muong people in the new year.
Khai ha in each Muong region takes place at different timesand places. Each site is associated with the history of the gods meriting theland and the ethnic community./.
When it comes to terraced rice fields in northern mountainous Hoa Binh province, those in Mien Doi in Lac Son district must be mentioned. These are impressive man-made works of the people of Lac Son in particular and of Vietnam’s northwestern region at large.
U Bo Peak in Van Nghia commune, Lac Son district, in Hoa Binh province is a destination to relax and enjoy adventure sports, including paragliding. When the weather is fine, the colourful gliders look like butterflies in the sky.
An international workshop on the role and value of Mo Muong - a unique cultural heritage of the Muong ethnic group in the northwestern province of Hoa Binh, was held in the locality on January 5-6.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
At the event (Photo: VNA) 
Locals join a ritual of going to the field to mark a new year of bumper harvest and prosperity. (Photo: VNA) 
