YÊN BÁI – Yên Bái Tourism Year kicked off with art performances and cultural activities on Friday night in the northern mountainous province.

More than 300 professional artists including singer Trọng Tấn, Minh Tuyết, Đăng Dương and Tùng Dương joined the performance themed Lung Linh Sắc Màu Yên Bái (Glamourous Yên Bái). The event also features Inh Lả Ơi, a traditional folk melody of Thái ethnic minority in Yên Bái Province, performed by American singer Kyo York.

Along with music and art, the characteristic images of Yên Bái – rice terraces, ban flower (orchid tree flower – the signature flower of the region) and stilt houses were also featured to bring audiences a sense of Yên Bái and the northwest region.

The event also gathered Miss Tourism winners from previous years to showcase a fashion collection named Colours of Northwest of designer Việt Hùng. The collection depicts the unique beauty of 30 different ethnic minorities and the landscapes of northwestern parts of Việt Nam.

“Besides focusing on cooperating with neighbouring provinces in the northwestern regions, Yên Bái is also creating several unique and attractive tourism products to call for more investors and draw more visitors to explore the scenic Mù Căng Chải terraced field, the ‘hunt for clouds’ at Tà Xùa, Tà Sì Nhù peak, experience paragliding in Khau Phạ pass, or enjoy Hồ Thác Bà eco tourism. From Yên Bái, visitors can easily continue their journey to famous Sapa in Lào Cai province, Mộc Châu in Sơn La or the Hùng King temple in Phú Thọ province,” said Yên Bái Province’s People’s Committee chairman, Đỗ Đức Du, in a workshop on introducing tourism products and enhancing tourism investment held on Friday afternoon.

“Yên Bái has huge tourism potential, the depth of culture in ethnic minorities is also a factor to create unique tourism products, drawing more visitors,” said deputy head of General Department of Tourism, Hà Văn Siêu at the workshop.

Siêu suggested the province should work out solutions on planning, enhancing infrastructure, and developing tourism based on the community towards sustainable development.

Following the opening event, a two-day festival honouring the Mother Goddess of Forest Worshipping Practice will begin on Saturday at Đông Cuông temple (known as the birthplace of Mother Goddess Worship Practice) in Yên Bái with several activities – the practice of lên đồng (going into a trance); a ritual in which practioners become mediums for 36 different deities, involving music, singing, dancing and costumes; a carnival recreating the Mother Goddess; and an exhibition of photos and paintings depicting the practice.

“This is the first time Yên Bái Province, and Văn Yên District specifically, has had the chance to host a festival featuring the Mother Goddess Worship Practice. The major activities focus on honouring this traditional practice and folk artists involved,” said Chairman of Văn Yên District’s People’s Committee, Vũ Quang Hải.

A paragliding festival was also held on May 13-14 and again on May 20-21 in Khau Phạ pass, Mù Căng Chải District, one of the longest mountain passes in Việt Nam with a height of more than 1,200 meters above the sea level, looking over a breathtaking view of Yên Bái’s stunning natural scenery.

Mù Căng Chải festival is also set to be held in September. The festival will features ethnic Mông performance of khèn (local traditional bamboo instrument); a paragliding festival, goat fighting and local sports and traditional products. It aims to showcase the Mù Căng Chải’s landscape and local ethnic groups’ culture.

Earlier in February, the 2017 Lào Cai – Northwest National Tourism Year event began, with various activities aiming to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector of the country.

Upcoming National Tourism Year activities include a horse racing festival, to be held in Bắc Hà in June; Việt Nam Mountain Marathon in Sapa in September; Bát Xát Terraced Field festival and the third Ô Qúy Hồ Mountain Bike Race in October.

The northwest region of Việt Nam comprises eight provinces, namely Điện Biên, Hà Giang, Lào Cai, Yên Bái, Hòa Bình, Lai Châu, Sơn La and Phú Thọ.

The region is home to more than 30 ethnic groups, with diverse tangible and intangible cultural heritage, historical sites and spectacular landscapes. -VNS