Festivals playing role as tourism booster in Dien Bien
Home to 19 ethnic groups with various cultural festivals, the northwestern province of Dien Bien is tapping its strengths in this regard to lure more tourists.
The boat racing festival in Dien Bien province. (Photo: nhandan.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Home to 19 ethnic groupswith various cultural festivals, the northwestern province of Dien Bien istapping its strengths in this regard to lure more tourists.
Ethnic minority groups accounting for up to 83% of thelocal population have maintained their traditional festivals like boatracing of the Thai Trang (White Thai), crop praying of the Kho Mu, and fire dance of the Dao,featuring multiple folk dances and songs.
Such festivals not only serve the spiritual life oflocal residents but also remain their pride. They have also been considereda booster of local tourism since eco-, cultural and community-based tourism hasemerged as a trend.
Over the past years, local authorities have paidmore attention to the organisation of the festivals with higher quality.Meanwhile, a number of travel firms have included them as highlights of theirtours.
Statistics show that Dien Bien welcomed more than 1million visitors last year, up nearly 25% year-on-year, and earned over 1.7trillion VND (68.64 million USD) from the sector, a rise of nearly 27%.
However, experts noted that the province’s potentialfor festival tourism has yet to be fully tapped as festive activities are notdiverse enough to entertain both locals and visitors, and the engagement ofdifferent economic sectors in the holding of cultural, arts and sportsactivities in combination with cultural festivals remains limited.
Some suggested Dien Bien pay more heed to special,typical festivals and connect them with tourist attractions in the province, stepup its connectivity with travel companies, and encourage the public to play amore active role in local tourism development.
Dien Bien is hosting the Visit Vietnam Year - DienBien 2024 with an opening ceremony for the national tourism year and the Ban(Bauhinia) Flower Festival 2024 held on March 16.
In coincidence with the 70th anniversary of the DienBien Phu victory (May 7, 1954 – 2024), Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien 2024 isexpected to bring endless experiences to tourists.
There will be 169 programmes and events throughoutthe year, comprising 13 national ones to be held by the Ministry of Culture,Sports and Tourism and other agencies, 28 by host Dien Bien province, and 128by 33 other provinces and centrally-run cities, Deputy Minister of Culture,Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy said.
Organisers said they believe that Visit Vietnam Year - DienBien 2024 will help promote tourism values and potential of Dien Bien province,the northwestern region, and Vietnam at large, thus helping to turn tourism intoa spearhead economic sector, she noted./.
The Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum is located on Vo Nguyen Giap Street in Muong Thanh ward, Dien Bien Phu city, in Dien Bien province, serving as a repository for thousands of documents and artefacts associated with the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory, which shook the world in 1954.
The opening ceremony of the Visit Vietnam Year - Dien Bien and Ban (Bauhinia) Flower Festival 2024 took place in the northwestern province of Dien Bien on March 16 evening, drawing a large number of visitors.
The French Defense Audiovisual Agency has made public a photo book on the Dien Bien Phu campaign in Vietnam, including never-before-seen images, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.
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With the unique concept of travelling the country through traditional music, the album takes listeners on a journey across Vietnam’s beautiful landscapes, immersing them in vibrant traditional festivals, retelling heroic tales of the nation’s history, showcasing local specialties, and reflecting the spirit and love of the modern Vietnamese people.
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A standout feature this year is “Manga Fest 2025”, showcasing celebrated comic titles and also offering author meet-and-greets, cosplay performances, and other interactive activities.
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It is the first time that the country is to hold a G1-level tournament which is expected to lure more than 100 athletes of 15 countries and regions at Go Vap Gymnasium.
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.
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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.
The boat racing festival in Dien Bien province. (Photo: nhandan.vn) 
