Tủa Chùa spring festivals boost tourism promotion and cultural exchange of local ethnic groups

ĐBP - Spring travel has long become a distinctive cultural feature of ethnic minority groups living in the highland district of Tủa Chùa, Điện Biên Province during the early days of the Lunar New Year (Tết).

As spring fills the air, locals and tourists from all over gather at spring festival venues across Tủa Chùa to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of local ethnic minority groups.

For ethnic minority groups in Tủa Chùa, the days after Tết, from the 5th to 15th days of the first lunar month, are eagerly awaited. During this time, the spring travel activities of the ethnic communities, especially the Mông people, become bustling and vibrant.

Xòe - a form of Vietnamese dancing with movements that symbolize human activities in ritual, culture, life and work – at the Huổi Lếch Spring Festival in Mường Báng Commune.

Thousands flock to festival venues. “Ném pao” (ball throwing) is a folk game maintained by the Mông people during spring festivals, loved by everyone from children to the elderly. Depending on their age, participants choose partners to play with. “Nem pao” is how the Mông people express their affection for each other, with many young men and women hoping to find a soulmate through the game. As they toss the ball, conversations begin, and warm glances and smiles are exchanged. For those who are married or elderly, playing pao is a way to chat, catch up, and share everyday life experiences.

Mr. Sùng A Vảng from Tủa Thàng Commune shared that with the country’s socio-economic development, the lives of locals have been uplifted. During the Tết holiday, people from villages and neighboring communes come together to participate in traditional games. Despite his age, he still enjoys “ném pao,” an unique trait of his ethnic minority group.

Thousands of locals and tourists join the Tả Phìn Spring Festival.

To create a joyful atmosphere in the early days of the 2025 Lunar New Year of Ất Tỵ, the People’s Committee of Tủa Chùa District issued a plan directing communes and towns to organize spring festivals for people to enjoy, in line with the customs of the ethnic minority groups, ensuring safety and thriftiness. They offer opportunity for ethnic minority groups in the district to relax after a year of hard work, motivating them to enthusiastically engage in production and economic development in the new year. It is also a time to promote the cultural image, land, and people of the highland district of Tủa Chùa, rich in traditional ethnic culture, to numerous tourists.

Mr. Đặng Tiến Công, Deputy Head of the Division for Culture and Information of Tủa Chùa District, stated that spring festive activities not only help promote local tourism through traditional games such as “múa khèn” (panpipe dance) and goat fighting but also contribute to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of ethnic minority groups in Tủa Chùa.

At the spring festival in Huổi Só Commune, the Dao Làn Tẻn people, also known as Dao Quần Chẹt, living along the Đà River, gather at Huổi Lóng Village to celebrate the spring festival. From early morning, thousands of Dao people from Huổi Só and neighboring communes of Sìn Hồ District (Lai Châu Province) and Quỳnh Nhai District (Sơn La Province) gathered here. This unique festival took place at the Huổi Lóng riverside in Huổi Só Commune, passed down through generations despite the passage of time. Unlike other spring festivals in the district, the Huổi Lóng spring festival is held only on the 4th day of Tết annually.

Locals participate in the blindfolded drum-hitting game.

Ms. Quàng Thị Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Huổi Só Commune, mentioned that the local authorities support the festival by installing sound systems for cultural performances and announcing game schedules and competition contents organized by the commune. Small stalls are set up by families around the venue to provide food and drinks for festivalgoers. Security, order, and environmental sanitation are also well-maintained.

In today’s era of integration and social development, the river section is filled with boats, while the riverbank is vibrant with the colorful attire of Dao Làn Tẻn women. Although not as bright as the clothing of the Mông or Thái people, it highlights the simple beauty of local girls. Many traders from afar also come here to buy and sell goods.

Ms. Phùng Thị Hồng Mảy from Tả Ngảo Commune, Sìn Hồ District, Lai Châu Province, shared that knowing women often buy fabric to make clothes on the 4th day of Tết, she comes here every year to serve their needs and always sells well.

Tourists take photos at a spring festival in Tủa Chùa.

To promote the cultural image, land, and people of highland Tủa Chùa celebrating spring with rich ethnic traditions to numerous tourists, and to meet the entertainment needs of locals, most of the 12 communes and town in the district have organized spring festival venues for cultural exchanges, folk games, and traditional sports competitions.

Visiting Tủa Chùa during the early days of spring, tourists not only immerse themselves in the natural mountainous scenery, admire the rocky plateau and magnificent caves but also have the chance to participate in many unique festivals of local ethnic minority groups.

Mr. Nguyễn Đình Huỳnh, a tourist from Điện Biên Phủ City, expressed that experiencing the spring festival atmosphere and the unique cultural space of the highland ethnic groups in Tủa Chùa left him with unforgettable impressions.

The activities in the Tủa Chùa spring festival series showcase the full essence of traditional culture and characteristic folk games of local ethnic groups, fostering solidarity, building trust between people and local authorities, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting the development of Tủa Chùa.

Written by Thanh Niên / Photo: Lan Phương

Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Preserving the soul of ethnic culture in modern life

    Preserving the soul of ethnic culture in modern life

    CULTURE - TOURISM -
    ĐBP - In Điện Biên province, each of 19 ethnic minority groups contributes to a vibrant cultural mosaic in Điện Biên province. Amid the current of integration, traditional values are cherished and passed down through generations, embodied in many concrete actions.
  • 'Proactively responding to minimize flood damage

    Proactively responding to minimize flood damage

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In recent years, with the impact of climate change, unpredictable and extreme rainfall and floods have caused significant damage to both lives and property. Proactively preventing, responding to, and preparing for these events early not only ensures a proactive approach but also reduces risks and minimizes damage.
  • 'Beautiful homeland - Eyeing from border areas

    Beautiful homeland - Eyeing from border areas

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - On the westernmost edge of the country, the historic days of August are filled with a spirit of celebration, echoing the nationwide joy of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, National Day (September 2), and the upcoming 14th national Party Congress. In this cloud-covered mountain frontier, the red flag with a yellow star flutters proudly above border markers and village rooftops, a vivid reminder that the sacred sovereignty of the nation remains firmly protected.
  • 'Tapping into agricultural strengths in Điện Biên province

    Tapping into agricultural strengths in Điện Biên province

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - In recent years, Điện Biên province has introduced and implemented a series of policies to unlock its agricultural potential. As a result, specialized farming zones producing high-value crops and livestock have emerged, making agriculture a reliable pillar of the local economy.
  • 'A local government close to the people, serving the people

    A local government close to the people, serving the people

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - More than a month after the launch of the two-tier local government model, grassroots-level authorities have been actively inspecting villages, meeting residents, and listening to their voices. This has enabled them to grasp the real situation on the ground, understand local needs and aspirations, and develop timely solutions and action programs that address urgent issues while laying the foundation for sustainable development.
  • 'Điện Biên’s signature dried meat faces challenges from counterfeits and low-quality products

    Điện Biên’s signature dried meat faces challenges from counterfeits and low-quality products

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Products such as dried pork, dried buffalo meat, and sausages have long been recognized as specialties rich in the flavors of the Northwestern localities in general and Điện Biên province in particular. Today, however, these specialties face a major challenge as counterfeit and substandard products infiltrate the market. This not only damages brand recognition and erodes consumer trust, but also threatens the livelihoods of local producers.
  • 'Reshaping Điện Biên Phủ into a modern, civilized ward

    Reshaping Điện Biên Phủ into a modern, civilized ward

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Điện Biên Phủ ward, Điện Biên province, was established under Resolution No.1661/NQ-UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, through the merger of five former wards (Him Lam, Tân Thanh, Mường Thanh, Thanh Bình, Thanh Trường) and Thanh Minh commune of the former Điện Biên Phủ city. Immediately after transitioning to the two-tier local government model, the ward’s Party Committee successfully held its first Congress, setting a clear goal of building a modern, civilized urban area.
  • 'Provincial armed forces replace makeshift homes for poor households in border areas

    Provincial armed forces replace makeshift homes for poor households in border areas

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Since early August, nearly 100 officers and soldiers from Infantry Battalion 1, Regiment 741, and the Defensive Area Commands of Region 1 - Mường Nhé, and Region 2 - Na Sang in Điện Biên province have split into teams carrying shovels, hammers, saws, chisels, and welding machines, marching into disadvantaged villages in the border communes of Mường Nhé, Nậm Kè, Mường Toong, and Na Sang. Their mission: to eliminate makeshift, dilapidated houses for poor households, improve local living conditions, and strengthen the “people’s defense” in the frontier of the Fatherland.
  • 'Solutions needed to address teacher shortages in mountainous and remote areas

    Solutions needed to address teacher shortages in mountainous and remote areas

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - The shortage of teachers at many public preschool and secondary schools in the province presents a significant challenge to the education sector. To address this issue, Điện Biên province has directed relevant departments and local authorities to urgently assess, recruit, and allocate teachers to meet the teaching needs for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • 'A strong “shield” protects national security and social order

    A strong “shield” protects national security and social order

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The achievements in the fight against drugs, the resilience in overcoming challenges in major criminal cases, and the steadfast trust of the people in the mountainous villages have all shaped the image of the brave and determined police officers of Điện Biên province. Through a journey of building, fighting, and growing, the sacrifices of each generation of officers have written a heroic history, confirming their central role in the fight to protect national security.
  • 'Điện Biên - Aspiration to develop further

    Điện Biên - Aspiration to develop further

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Eighty years after the success of the August Revolution in 1945, Điện Biên province has transformed from a remote, underdeveloped borderland into a bright spot of growth in the Northwest. This achievement is the crystallization of the Party’s leadership, the government’s management, and the solidarity and contributions of generations. Entering a new stage, Điện Biên continues to nurture its aspiration for innovation, integration, and breakthrough, toward a prosperous, distinctive, and livable future.
  • 'From the historic autumn to the two-tier government

    From the historic autumn to the two-tier government

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The August Revolution of 1945 was a brilliant milestone in the history of the Vietnamese nation. Under the Party’s banner, the entire people rose up to seize power, opening an era of independence, freedom, and the path toward socialism. That victory was the result of unyielding willpower, great solidarity, and the burning aspiration for national liberation. In that historic flow, Điện Biên province - the westernmost frontier of the Fatherland - merged with the nation’s revolutionary surge, contributing to the country’s monumental event.
  • 'Harnessing local strengths to fuel Điện Biên’s future

    Harnessing local strengths to fuel Điện Biên’s future

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Điện Biên province has in recent years stepped up efforts to unlock its potential, rolling out a series of measures that are providing strong momentum for economic development. As a result, the province’s socio-economic landscape has seen clear improvements: GRDP growth has remained high, investment and tourism have expanded, and poverty reduction has accelerated, all contributing to a better quality of life for local communities.
  • 'Improving effectiveness of disaster forecasting and early warning

    Improving effectiveness of disaster forecasting and early warning

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - Disaster forecasting and early warning are not just technical tasks but serve as the foundation for localities to take proactive measures and minimize damage when disasters strike. In the context of increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather, the demand for detailed, realistic, and locally tailored forecasts has become ever more urgent.