The fifth Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival of the Cham people is kicked off at April 1 Square in Tuy Hoa, the capital city of Phu Yen on August 19. (Photo: VNA)Phu Yen (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam presented a certificate recognising Nhan Tower in the central coastal province of Phu Yen as a national specialrelic site to local authorities during the opening of a festival of ethnic Cham culture on August 19.
The fifthCulture, Sports and Tourism Festival of the Cham people was kicked off at April1 Square in Tuy Hoa, the capital city of Phu Yen, under the theme “Preserving Culture of the Cham” in accordance with developing tourism.
It is taking place from August 18 – 21, gathering 2,000performers and artists from nine central and southern provinces andcities where Cham communities live,such as Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan, An Giang, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.
Addressing theopening ceremony, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam spoke highly of the festival, saying it has become an important cultural eventwhere Cham people meet and raise their sense of responsibility in preserving their culture and consolidatingnational unity.
Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the fifth Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival of the Cham people. (Photo: VNA)It alsoprovides an opportunity to promote Cham people’s distinctive culture values andVietnam’s cultural diversity among international friends and boost tourism, hesaid.
The Deputy PM asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant provinces tostrengthen preservation and promotion of ethnic cultures and create newpositive cultural values.
The Culture,Sports and Tourism Festival of the Cham people features tours to populartourist spots in Phu Yen and a seminar on connecting Phu Yen and other centralsouth provinces.
Other activities at the festival include artperformances, a fashion show of the Cham’s traditional costumes, an exhibition on socio-economicdevelopment of the Cham ethnic group, the introduction of traditionalcrafts and cuisine, as well as folk games.
In the sports area, various games will be heldsuch as wrestling, tug-of-war, volleyball and football.
TheNhan Tower is a part of Cham culture in Phu Yen province, the only one of its kindintact in the province. It was built by the Cham from the 10th to13th century at Nhan Mountain on the Ba River side in Ward 1 in TuyHoa city. It is a quadrangle with four 23.5m high sides.
An altar inside thetower is a unique architectural Cham feature and one of the few remaining Chamaltars.
Thesame day, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam and his entourage visited and presented gifts,worth 3.2 million VND each, to 100 Agent Orange/Dioxin victims in Dong Hoa and Tay Hoa districts, Phu Yen province.–VNA
VNA
