Bac Lieu culture-tourism festival spotlights heritage links, growth aspiration
The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu is hosting its three-day culture-tourism festival that highlights the connection of heritage quintessence and an aspiration for growth.
Bac Lieu (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu is hosting its three-day culture-tourism festival that highlights the connection of heritage quintess🦩ence and an aspiration for growth.
In addition to don ca tai tu (southern amateur music), the event features the performances of many national intangible cultural heritages and those accredited by UNESCO, such as Ca Tru (ceremonial singing); Space of Gong Culture of the Central Highlands; Bai Choi of the central region; Quan Ho (love duet); and art forms of Khmer and Hoa ethnic people.
Its grand opening ceremony took place on November 27 evening, gathering more than 500 artists, actors and artisans from 25 localities nationwide. The event was broadcast live and rounded off with a low-altitude fireworks.
In his speech at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam lauded Bac Lieu’s identification of five socio-economic pillars for development investment, helping it obtain double-digit growth in consecutive years and take the lead in the region.
The pillars are agriculture, with a focus on high-tech application and better rice and shrimp production; industry, particularly renewable energy; tourism; high-quality trade-service, education, and health; and marine economy in association with defence-security.
The official requested local authorities to pay attention to the sustainability factor in every stages of development.
Dam recommended Bac Lieu promote initiatives and projects on regional linkage, initially cooperation with localities in the key southern economic zones and Mekong Delta to jointly invest in infrastructure serving regional growth.
He stressed that the province also needs to preserve and develop its traditional cultural value, strongly invest in education, health, and social welfare, protect the nature, and create a safe living environment.
Secretary of the Bac Lieu Party Committee Lu Van Hung said the festival, among the activities marking the 25th anniversary of reestablishing the province, demonstrates its efforts for socio-economic development after a long period affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The province is the birthplace of don ca tai tu, recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2013. Considered one of the country’s main music genres, it originated from Hue court music and folk music of the southern region. Coming into being in the 19th century, the genre thrived in the early 20th century and remains an important part of Vietnam’s traditional culture today.
Bac Lieu is also where Cao Van Lau (1892-1976), known as the father of cai luong or southern traditional opera, wrote classic cai luong piece Da co hoai lang in 1919. It tells the story of a wife waiting for her husband to return home from battle./.
The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu has brought into full play its advantages like the river network and large-scale rice fields in the northern part of National Highway 1A to promote its tourism.
The Navy Region 2 Command, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, are adopting an array of measures to raise local fishermen’s awareness about legal fishing at sea.
The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu has coordinated with the neighbouring province of Hau Giang to organise a programme promoting the value and intangible cultural heritage of the “Don ca tai tu” art.
Shrimp breeding has been identified as a spearhead economic sector for the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, which has significantly contributed to maintaining economic growth in the province.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
At the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA)
