HBO – An incense offering ceremony was recently held in Quen Ang pagoda, Tan Phong commune, Cao Phong district, the northern province of Hoa Binh to pray for bumper crops. Thousands of locals inside and outside the commune and visitors attended the event.
An art performance of Muong ethnic
group is performed at incense offering ceremony in Quen Ang pagoda.
The
event is held annually to pray for national peace and prosperity for the
nation, people’s happiness and bumper crops. This year’s event included ritual
and festive activities. The ritual began from the morning of the eighth day of
the first lunar month. The procession departed from Quen Ang pagoda for But (Buddha)
temple at the foot of Coi mountain in Trang Tren 3 hamlet to invite the Buddha
to attend the festival. The procession was led by a group of people holding
flags, followed by shamans, Buddhist followers and 12 unmarried girls.
Returning the pagoda, shamans took over worshiping ritual.
The
festive part heated up the event with volleyball matches. On February 11, or
the seventh day of the first lunar month, a Muong beauty contest took place
with the participation of eight contestants from eight hamlets. An amateur art
contest was also held in the day, attracting eight teams with each performing
two performances.
Quen
Ang pagoda in Tan Phong commune is associated with a legend on Coi mountain
flower garden, which used to be a revolutionary base located in the Cao Phong –
Thach Yen Revolutionary Base Complex. The complex was recognised as a national
cultural and historical relic site in 1996./.
Covering an area of over 52,000 hectares spanning districts of Mai Chau, Tan Lac, Cao Phong, Da Bac, and Hoa Binh City, Hoa Binh lake has strong potential for tourism development. In recent years, thanks to the attention of local Party Committees and authorities as well as support from international organisations, the advantages of tourism in the lake area have been utilised.
Mai Chau is a mountainous district and home to many ethnic groups such as Thai, Muong, Kinh, Mong, Dao, and Tay with distinctive cultural identities, creating a diverse and unique cultural treasure. Aware of its advantages, the district has paid attention to the preservation and promotion of ethnic groups’ cultural values so that culture will become a leverage for tourism and contribute to socio-economic development and life quality improvement.
According to the Hoa Binh provincial Department of Planning and Investment, in Hoa Binh Lake tourist area, there are currently 16 licensed or certified service, cultural and tourism investment projects with a land use area of about 1,444 hectares, and a total capital of over 3.3 trillion VND (133.5 million USD). In addition to investment attraction, the province is speeding up the implementation of projects so as to realise a goal of developing Hoa Binh Lake tourist area into a national one.
These days, tourist attractions in Mai Chau district, especially those highlighted by the charming and romantic white Ban (Bauhinia) flower blossoms, are attracting a large number of visitors from across the country. Visiting these sites, tourists can immerse themselves in the pristine and majestic beauty of nature.
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