(HBO) - As the most typical traditional festival of the Mong ethnic group, the annual Gau Tao festival takes place at the beginning of the Lunar New Year. The two communes of Hang Kia and Pa Co, Mai Chau district hold the festival to express gratitude to the heaven and the earth and pray for peace, prosperity and good health.
Photo:Tourists
and locals join the ball-throwing event (nem pao) in Gau Tao festival in Pa Co
and Hang Kia communes, Mai Chau district.
This year, the festival was held on a larger scale in a joyful atmosphere to
celebrate the Year of the Cat. It drew the participation of a large number of
visitors across the country and foreign tourists.
Xa Linh stadium in Pa Co commune was chosen as the venue for the festival which
opened with the presence of more than 6,000 residents and visitors.
According to Sung A Chua, Vice Chairman of Pa Co Commune People's Committee,
head of the event’s organising committee, the organisation of the festival
meets the aspirations and spiritual life of the people, aiming to honour
cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group. It also contributes to promoting
the image, people, history and culture of the highland region and speeding up
tourism development.
Erecting a bamboo pole, known as a neu tree, is the most important ritual of
the festival. It is erected on a large and flat ground which reflects stability
and is also a symbol of the sacred tree connecting heaven and earth. Shamans
burn incense and put offerings around the tree to pray for favourable weather
and people's prosperity in the new year.
This year's festival attracted a lot of visitors as it lasted for three days
with the organisation of many activities. Right after the opening of the
festival, boys and girls of the Mong ethnic group and tourists, hand in hand,
joined a Xoe dance to show their solidarity.
Visitors to the festival were also fascinated by folk games and experiential
activities.
Susanne, a tourist from Germany, said the atmosphere of the Gau
Tao festival is wonderful as everyone has fun and participates in interesting
games.
She described the trip as an unforgettable experience about the
land, people, and cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group in Mai Chau
district.
The Gau Tao festival offers a chance for the Mong people who work far away from
home to return to their homeland, to gather and welcome the new year.
Coming to the festival, visitors can enjoy cultural performances
imbued with the identity of Mong people in such games as throwing balls or
walking on stilts. This is also an opportunity for Mong boys to show off their
talent in dancing and playing panpipes./.
Cao Phong has paid due attention to developing tourism, creating impetus for socio-economic development towards completing the targets set in the resolution of the district’s 28th Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure.
A great number of visitors have flocked to tourist attractions in Hoa Binh province in the first lunar month every year to admire the beautiful scenery, fully enjoy the spring atmosphere, and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere in many localities.
In recent times, Cao Phong District, Hoa Binh Province has focused on promoting tourism development, attracting visitors, and contributing to socio-economic growth.
In the early days of the Year of the Snake, visitors flocked to Yen Phu commune of Hoa Binh’s Lac Son district to experience the "Xuong Dong" (going to the field) festival, the largest celebration in the Muong Vang region, which is closely linked with the Mai Da Lang Vanh (the stone roof of Vanh village) archaeological site, which has been recognised as a special national relic site.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, visitors from near and far are eager to come to the mountainous district of Da Bac to have unique cultural experiences such as learning to wrap traditional cakes of ethnic minorities, practicing writing ancient Tay characters or immersing themselves in the Tay melodies.
Tan Lac has great potential for tourism development. In addition, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 13-NQ/TU, dated October 17, 2022, on building the highland communes in Tan Lac district into provincial-level tourism areas by 2030, with a vision to 2050. However, according to the assessment, implementing the goals in the spirit of Resolution No. 13-NQ/TU has had limited results.
