The Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Festival 2026 opened in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on the evening of October 16, featuring a grand Xoe dance performance by 2,026 participants.

The grand Xoe dance performance with the participation of 2,026 people. (Photo: VNA)

The opening ceremony was attended by Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister; representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and ministries and agencies; and the Ambassadors of Belarus, Laos and India to Vietnam, among others.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Tuan Anh said the province regards culture as the spiritual foundation, an endogenous resource and a driving force for sustainable development, with people at the centre of cultural creation, preservation and enjoyment.

The province is committed to preserving cultural heritage in tandem with tourism development, supporting artisans, passing traditions on to younger generations, creating livelihoods and improving people’s living standards.

It hopes Muong Lo’s distinctive cultural values will become a lasting tourism attraction, bringing visitors closer to local hamlets and traditional products while fostering community pride and connecting generations.

Running from October 15 to 21, this annual provincial-level festival marks the fifth anniversary of UNESCO’s inscription of the art of Xoe dance by the Thai people on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It also highlights achievements in preserving and promoting the heritage, celebrates the cultural identities of ethnic communities in the Northwest, and promotes Lao Cai’s destinations and tourism products.

The opening art programme, entitled “Thai Xoe – A Circle of Love”, combined traditional cultural elements with contemporary artistic expression.

Its highlight was the mass dance involving 2,026 participants, symbolising community solidarity and the enduring vitality of Xoe dance heritage.

Other activities include a street parade, the 2026 Northwest Tourism Fair, an OCOP product promotion and networking space, a Northwest cultural exhibition, and a photo exhibition showcasing tourism in the region and Lao Cai.

Localities across the province have also staged parallel events, including the Lao Cai Shan Tuyet Tea Festival 2026, the “Flying over the Golden Season” paragliding event in Tu Le commune, community-based tourism experiences, traditional sports, folk festivals, agricultural tours and cultural activities.

Five Vietnamese films selected for 31st Busan International Film Festival

Vietnamese cinema is represented in four sections – the largest number featuring Vietnamese works to date.

Cultures of the World Festival opens in Hanoi

Vietnam views culture as both the spiritual foundation of society and an important goal, driving force and resource for national development. The country is working to build an advanced culture imbued with national identity while actively absorbing the cultural quintessence of humanity and expanding international cultural exchange and cooperation.

Vietnam banh mi festival held for first time in Japan

The Vietnam Banh Mi (Baguette) Festival 2026 opened at Fun More Time Square in Tokyo on Sept. 26, offering a space for local people and the Vietnamese community to connect through Vietnamese cuisine.

World Culture Festival brings vibrant global showcase to Hanoi

The second Cultures of the World Festival in Hanoi 2026 is expected to create a vibrant meeting point for Hanoi and cultures from around the world, connecting traditional heritage with new forms of cultural expression and bringing cultural stories closer to the public.

Great National Unity Festival to be held abroad for first time

The first-ever Great National Unity Festival among overseas Vietnamese communities will be held in Prague, the Czech Republic, later this year, according to Guidance No. 12/HD-MTTW-BTT, dated September 11, 2026, by the Standing Board of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

Bac Ninh brings joyful Mid-Autumn Festival to disadvantaged children

BAC NINH - Local authorities, organisations and communities across Bac Ninh have stepped up efforts to care for children, particularly those facing difficult circumstances, during this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing them gifts, entertainment and a sense of community.