The third Vietnam-Laos-China ‘con’ festival wrapped up in the northernmountainous province of Dien Bien on October 27, gathering hundreds ofartists and athletes from around the region.

A con is acolourful fabric ball which is thrown at a bamboo hoop as part of a folkgame played during the festivals and New Year holidays of Thai ethniccommunities. It is often held on a spacious and flat ground where a15-20m high bamboo pole is erected with the target on top. The game hasbeen adopted by people living in the border areas of Laos, China andVietnam.

The Lao district of Nhot U, China’s Jiangchengregion, and Dien Bien and Lao Cai provinces in Vietnam take it in turnsto organise the festival highlighting the game every year.

In addition to con throwing competitions, the three-dayfestival featured folk games, a cooking contest, a costumed beautypageant, a trade fair on Vietnamese consumer products and culturalexchange activities.

According to Lo Van In, aThai culture researcher in Dien Bien, the con symbolises Yang while thebamboo ring embodies Yin. The game shows the harmony of Yin and Yang,meaning that couples who wish to have children often take part to prayfor a child.

The biennial festival is also expected to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding among three regional countries.-VNA