"Welcome New Year 2016" at Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism

One of the highlights of this year's activities is the reenactment of the tug-of-war ritual and folk game - recently honored by UNESCO.

Joining in the atmosphere of welcoming the New Year 2016 in all regions of the country, this morning (January 1), the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism organized activities "Welcoming the New Year 2016 - Cuisine - Cultural features of the Vietnamese people".

With various activities such as performances, introduction of culinary culture space, typical products of the 3 regions of North - Central - South, honoring the tug-of-war game ritual of the Mong ethnic group (Ha Giang province), Tay and Nung ethnic groups (Lao Cai province)... the New Year's Eve activity creates an interesting experience space for visitors during the New Year holiday 2016.

Special performances at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Son, Director of the Management Board of the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village, shared: "At the beginning of the new year, we organize cultural activities with the hope and wish that cultural values ​​will shine, the country will develop in peace and prosperity. Thereby honoring the tug of war game that has just been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity and cultural cuisine to introduce to tourists, especially international friends, a country of Vietnam rich in national cultural identity."

One of the highlights of this year’s activities is the reenactment of the tug-of-war ritual and folk game – an intangible cultural heritage of humanity recently recognized by UNESCO. Tug-of-war is not only a traditional folk sport but for the Tay people, it is a festival to pray for health and luck at the beginning of the year.

Reenactment of the folk game tug of war.

Tug of war

Mr. Luc Van Tinh, head of Trung Do village, Bao Nhai commune, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province said: "At the beginning of the year, usually on January 15, the village opening festival will open, in which the most special is the tug of war ceremony, a competition of strength and talent for all the people. The village chief will prepare an offering, with seven-colored sticky rice, a chicken, a plate of fruit to come to the ceremony, asking the gods to allow all the villages to tug of war, then the villagers will stand on the men's and women's sides to compete in tug of war. When tug of war, there must be both men and women to have spring, equality, and happiness. Whoever wins will be healthy all year, and have a prosperous business".

After the ceremony was reenacted, many locals and tourists from all over the country enthusiastically joined in the festival with the Tay ethnic people.

The activities "Welcome New Year 2016 - Cuisine - Cultural features of Vietnamese people" will be held until January 3. On this occasion, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism will also introduce to the people and tourists the cultural activities of the Muong and Thai people in the Muong and Thai ethnic houses and the Cham Tower and Khmer pagodas.

According to VOV.VN