Ethnic groups in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quangon February 26 held the Long Tong (going to the field) festival – anannual ritual of the Tay ethnic people that became part of thenational intangible cultural heritage in 2013.

Amidst the spring festive atmosphere, the locals as well as visitorsflocked to the provincial Chiem Hoa district for the age-old agriculturefestival, which is traditionally observed on the eighth day of thefirst lunar month to pray for favourable weather, bumper crops, andhappiness.

The annual event began with a parade ofnine trays of local specialties as offering to gods to thank them forgood crops and hope for a well-off and blissful life in the New Year.

It was followed by a lion dance performed byyoungsters, a Tich Dien (ploughing) ceremony, and folk games such as tugof war, stick pushing and cloth ball throwing.

Thefestival, which is also popular in other northern mountainousprovinces such as Bac Kan , Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang, Lang Son and HaGiang, has become a tourist attraction every Spring.

In addition to Long Tong festival, Tuyen Quang province boasts othernational intangible cultural heritage, namely Then singing of the Tayethnic minority group, “cap sac” (coming-of-age) and “Pao dung” singingof the Dao ethnic group.-VNA