Thai ethnic people in Than Uyen district, the northern province of Lai Chau, held their traditional new year festival of Lung Tung (Going to the field) on January 29, drawing crowds of local residents and visitors.
Lai Chau (VNA) – Thai ethnic people in Than Uyen district, the northern province of Lai Chau, held their traditional new year festꦆival of Lung Tung (Going to the fiel꧋d) on January 29, drawing crowds of local residents and visitors.
Highlights of the festival, marking the start of a new farming year, are rituals paying tribute to Han(a deity that helps the Thai fight against invaders and defend their territory) and the gods of the mountains and the forest. Then, the government's and locals' representatives went tothe field to perform the plowing and sowing rituals, hoping for a year ofabundant harvest. During the festival, visitors have a chance to participatein folk games, nem con (throwing a ball through a ring for good luck),crossbow shooting, tug of war and cultural exchanges. Addressing the event, Tran Quang Chien, vice chairman ofThan Uyen district’s People’s Committee said that Lung Tung festival is an opportunity to strengthen community bonds, preserving the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic groupsand popularising the image of Than Uyen district to tourists./.
Lai Chau mountainous province is investing in upgrading and renovating its typical mountain markets with an aim to draw in fresh tourism numbers. The idea is to also help smooth out market operations, increase goods traded to improve the economy, and ease spiritual lives to help promote markets and their unique cultural identities.
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At the festival. (Photo: VNA) 
