Festival of Culture, Sports and Tourism Exchange in the Vietnam-Laos border area will organize in Dien Bien province

Illustrative photo.

The 3rd Festival of Culture, Sports and Tourism Exchange in the Vietnam-Laos border area has a total of ten Vietnamese provinces including Dien Bien, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Kon Tum and 10 Lao provinces are Luang Prabang, Hua Phan, At Ta Pu, Sekong, Xieng Khouang, Boly Kham Say, Kham Muon, Xa Va Na Khet, Sa La Van, Phong Sa Ly.

The opening ceremony will last for 120 minutes at 7/5 Square in Dien Bien Phu city, with the event starting with a special art programme featuring the participation of hundreds of actors and artisans from both Vietnam and Laos.  The official ceremony of the festival will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV), the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), and throughout other provinces in the country at 8 p.m on October 1st.

There will be a wide range of activities taking place during the festival. This includes an incense offering ceremony at the martyr temple, ritual ceremonies of cultural activities, shows featuring traditional costumes, an exhibition of the ethnic minority community residing in the Vietnam - Laos border area, famtrip activities, and surveys. The event is behind held as part of activities celebrating the country’s 77th National Day, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties, and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

The main aim of the festival is to strengthen the solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between the two nations, as well as reaffirming the country’s consistent policy of maintaining, consolidating, and enhancing its special relationship with the neighbouring nation.

Furthermore, it is also expected to promote the tourism potential and traditional cultures of ethnic minorities that reside along the Vietnam-Laos border to both domestic and international friends, thereby contributing to preserving ethnic identities./.