The Bản Phủ Citadel Festival is celebrated with various unique folk cultural activities. In the ceremonial part, dragon dances, drum performances, incense offerings, and reading of memorial verses take place with formal rituals. A special highlight this year was the performance of actors from the Hanoi Chèo Theatre. Their performances vividly reenacted the heroic history of hero Hoàng Công Chất, who drove the Phẻ invaders out of the Mường Thanh area, protecting the nation’s border.

For the people of Điện Biên, Bản Phủ Citadel holds special significance as it is closely associated with the leadership of hero Hoàng Công Chất, General Ngải, and General Khanh, who led the insurgent army to defeat the Phẻ invaders and protect Mường Thanh. The Bản Phủ Citadel Festival also symbolizes the unity of the ethnic groups, serving as a testament to the collective effort in driving out foreign invaders and safeguarding the peaceful borders of the nation. Therefore, following the opening ceremony, the locals perform the tribute to hero Hoàng Công Chất at his temple.

Trần Thị Thủy, from Noong Hẹt commune, shared: “The tribute ceremony is very meaningful, and I have watched it many times. What stands out the most is how, through the history of nation-building and defense, the Kinh and Thái ethnic groups have blended their cultures into the Bản Phủ Citadel Festival to honor the legacy of hero Hoàng Công Chất in Mường Thanh. The two ethnic groups, with distinct traditions such as clothing, writing, language, and customs, come together to perform the tribute at the Hoàng Công Chất temple.”

At the festival, visitors are not only immersed in the spiritual and cultural space but also have the opportunity to explore the traditional cultures of the local ethnic groups.

The festival features a wide range of activities, from traditional sports competitions, ethnic costume performances, exhibitions of paintings, and xòe dance. These activities create a lively and joyful atmosphere for the festival. Cultural and tourism products, as well as local agricultural products and daily-use items, are also showcased, reflecting the vibrant traditional cultures of the ethnic groups.

Lý Thu Quỳnh, from Bắc Ninh, shared: “This is my first time attending the Bản Phủ Citadel Festival. The cultural activities here are incredibly diverse, from customs and beliefs to spiritual life and cuisine. What I found most interesting during my exploration of Điện Biên this time is how welcoming and approachable the locals are. Whenever one person starts playing the drum, someone else will join with the gongs, and everyone joins in a circle dance, regardless of ethnicity or region.”

With its diverse range of activities, the festival is not only an opportunity for locals and visitors to discover and experience the unique cultural traditions of Điện Biên’s ethnic groups but also a chance to honor and introduce to tourists the long-standing cultural and spiritual heritage that has been preserved and promoted to this day. The vibrant cultural diversity at the Bản Phủ Citadel Festival contributes to strengthening national unity and promoting socio-economic development tied to the culture of the local ethnic groups.