The Ha Giang Provincial People’s Committee held a ceremony on April 26 to open the Khau Vai Love Market Festival.
A performance at the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Son said that Ha Giang possesses the unique culture of ethnic minority groups.
The provincial authorities have built plans to preserve and promote cultural and intangible cultural heritage and traditional practices in the locality.
At the ceremony, leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism handed over certificates honouring the Khau Vai Love Market Festival and the peace praying ritual of the Giay ethnic group as national intangible cultural heritages.
Taking place from April 25 to 27, this year’s Phong Luu Festival featured assorted cultural activities and exciting folk games, allowing unique travel experience for visitors.
Phong Luu Khau Vai Market is held only once per year, on the 27th day of the third lunar month. Believed to date back to more than 100 years ago, the market is not a trading place for agricultural products or specialties as usual, but instead acts as a meeting venue for couples who were in love but broke up in the end.
The peace-praying ritual is often staged on special occasions of Giay ethnic group in Nam Ban Commune, Meo Vac District, to pray for bumper crops, happiness and prosperity.