Nghe An solemnly opens the 2023 Lotus Village Festival

On the evening of May 12, in Vinh City, Nghe An Province, the opening ceremony of the 2023 Lotus Village Festival and the "Mother of Lotus Village" art program was solemnly held to celebrate the 155th anniversary of the birth of Ms. Hoang Thi Loan - mother of President Ho Chi Minh (1868 - 2023), the 133rd anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2023).

Overview of the opening ceremony of the 2023 Lotus Village Festival. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the 2023 Lotus Village Festival. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Every May, on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, Nghe An province solemnly organizes the Lotus Village Festival. This year's Lotus Village Festival takes place from May 12 to 19 with many exciting and meaningful activities concentrated in Vinh city, Nam Dan district and Cua Lo town. In addition to the solemn and sacred ceremonies, there are rich and diverse activities in the fields of culture, sports and tourism.

Highlights include the Sen Village Singing Festival with the participation of more than 600 artists and actors from 21 mass art troupes from districts, cities and towns; Vi and Giam folk song performances and art performances to serve the people; a thematic exhibition on Uncle Ho; the contest "Uncle Ho in the hearts of Nghe An youth"; volleyball and traditional martial arts tournaments across the province...

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee delivered the opening speech of the 2023 Sen Village Festival. Photo: Thanh Cuong

There will also be a culinary competition to prepare dishes from lotus; folk games associated with Uncle Ho's childhood activities in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district; Cua Lo hot air balloon festival 2023; Street festival program with the theme "Homeland in lotus blooming season" with colorful cultural performances and cultural and artistic heritage.

The highlight of the Festival is the Art Program “Mother of Sen Village” at the Opening Ceremony, which took place simultaneously in Vinh City and Hue City - where beloved Uncle Ho and his family lived for nearly 10 years during his childhood, to honor the profound human qualities and values ​​of Ms. Hoang Thi Loan and President Ho Chi Minh. And the special art program “From Sen Village to the City Named Ho Chi Minh” expressed the respectful sentiments of the Party Committee, Government and People from the city named after Uncle Ho on the occasion of his birthday at the Closing Ceremony on the evening of May 19.

Many people braved the rain to attend the opening night of the 2023 Lotus Village Festival. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Sen Village Festival, on behalf of the provincial leaders, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province affirmed: Every Nghe An citizen is always honored and proud of the historical, cultural, patriotic and revolutionary traditions of their homeland. We are even more proud that this land has given birth to an outstanding great man: President Ho Chi Minh - National liberation hero, world cultural celebrity, beloved leader of the Vietnamese people, outstanding international activist, exemplary and loyal great friend of friends from all over the world, messenger of peace, solidarity, friendship, cooperation and development among peoples in the world.

Born into a patriotic Confucian family, from his childhood, Nguyen Sinh Cung lived in the love, care and education of his relatives, especially his hard-working and self-sacrificing mother. His mother - Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan was born and raised in the cultural cradle of Nghe An with a passionate tradition of patriotism and a family with a famous tradition of Confucianism and humanity.

Art program "Mother of Lotus Village". Photo: Thanh Cuong

That is why throughout her life, Ms. Hoang Thi Loan was admired by people for her talent and virtue; her name has gone down in history. Her life is a shining example of moral qualities, great sacrifices, kindness and tolerance of Vietnamese women. She was a dutiful daughter, a faithful and responsible wife, a kind and affectionate mother, lived a simple and honest life, and had extraordinary willpower to overcome the difficulties of contemporary adversity. Her virtues were the pure source that nurtured, cultivated and greatly influenced the morality and style of President Ho Chi Minh, which lives forever and ever until today.

Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized: Sen Village Festival is a political and cultural activity of important significance in the spiritual life of the people of the whole country in general and Nghe An province in particular, aiming to express gratitude and respect for President Ho Chi Minh.

Through the activities at the Festival, we aim to promote the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh; continue to promote the study and follow of his ideology, morality and style. This is also an opportunity to introduce and promote to the whole country and international friends about the culture of Sen Village, about the land and people of Nghe An, dynamic, friendly, always open to opportunities for cooperation and development.

Performance at the Art Program "Mother of Lotus Village". Photo: Thanh Cuong

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party Committee, Government and People of Nghe An province, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung respectfully expressed his deep gratitude to the leaders of the Party, State, departments, ministries, branches, central agencies, Military Region 4, localities and units for their affection, attention and valuable help to Nghe An province; thanked Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank and TH Group for accompanying the festival. Nghe An province hopes to continue to receive more attention, support and help in the coming time.

Right after the Opening Ceremony is the Art Program: "The Mother of Lotus Village" with 3 chapters: From the hammock of Lotus Village; Noble lotus and Radiant Vietnam.

Leaders of the Party, State, Nghe An province, Bac A Joint Stock Commercial Bank, TH Group presented gifts of gratitude to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Before the end of the art program, comrades: Phan Dinh Trac - Head of the Central Internal Affairs Committee; Vo Thi Anh Xuan - Vice President; Dao Ngoc Dung - Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; Thai Thanh Quy - Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee; Bui Quang Huy - First Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Ms. Thai Huong - General Director of Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Chairwoman of the TH Group Strategy Council directly presented flowers and gifts to express their respect and honor for the silent and great sacrifices of the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers: Tran Thi Em (Nam Anh commune, Nam Dan district); Vo Thi Hoa (Nghi Khanh commune, Nghi Loc district); Le Thi Nhan (Nghi Yen commune, Nghi Loc district) for the cause of national independence.