Cao Bang (VNA) – The First Ban Gioc Waterfall Festival and Then singing andTinh (musical instrument) performance kicked off in Trung Khanh district, thenorthern border province of Cao Bang, on October 7.

Thensinging, a unique art of the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups in Vietnam’snorth-western region, has been recognised as national intangible cultural heritage.

Thefestival aims to promote the image of the province and its people to domesticand international tourists, contributing to the local socio-economicdevelopment. It is hoped to draw investment and bolster border tradeactivities.

[Festival iꩵn honour of Vietnam’s widest waterfall]

Speaking atthe opening ceremony, Nguyen Trung Thao, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee said that the Prime Minister recently approved a plans to develop BanGioc Waterfall Tourism site, creating favourable conditions for investors tobuild tourism infrastructure in the locality. Several tourism policies havealso been put forward by the province to attract investors, he added.

Ban GiocWaterfall is one of Vietnam’s most impressive natural sights. Thirty metreshigh and 300 metres across, it is the widest, but not the highest, in thecountry. The falls occur on the beautiful jade-blue water of the Quay Son Riveras it flows through a pastoral landscape of rice fields and bamboo groves,surrounded by limestone mountains.

On theopening day, participants joined rituals such as bringing water from thewaterfall to Truc Lam Ban Gioc Pagoda, and praying for peace and prosperity ofthe nation. Other activities of the festival include a photo exhibition, traditionalart performances, folk games, sports competitions and a food court with localspecialties.

Thefestival also hosted a cultural exchange programme between Trung Khanh districtsand two localities of China’s Guangxi province.–VNA