Festival promises ethnic delight

Airborne: A Dao Tien ethnic man dances in a cultural festival in Moc Chau District in the north-eastern province of Son La. A festival's aiming to promote regional tourism will be held in the province from August 27 to September 2. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Truong

HA NOI — Different tour packages will be presented during a festival at the Moc Chau Plateau in the north-eastern province of Son La from August 27 to September 2.

Entitled Qua Mien Tay Bac – Son La 2011 (Visiting the North-eastern Region-Son La 2011), the festival aims at promoting tourism in the province, especially Moc Chau Plateau.

Provincial People's Committee chairman Cam Ngoc Minh said tourism would become the key economy in Son La which had invested in supporting infrastructure over past years.

"The promotion will be a step in further co-operation with neighbouring provinces – Hoa Binh, Dien Bien and Lai Chau – to create diversified tourism services for the region," said Minh, who is also the head of the event's organisation board.

Six hundreds artists will perform on August 28 to kick off the one-week event. The perform-ance will be broadcast on VTV1.

A cultural and tourism camp at the Moc Chau Stadium will offer visitors the chance to learn about the culture of 12 ethnic groups in the province and the bio-agricultural products of local farmers.

A documentary film on the theme of the north-eastern region tourism may be seen at the Moc Chau Cultural Centre from August 29 to September 2.

A competition on traditional sports and traditional games is also on the programme for the central stadium every morning from August 30 to September 2.

Tours in the region, including Dai Yem Waterfall, Doi Cave and Mooc Ly military post, built by the French, are being planned by the provincial Tourism Promotion Centre.

Other activities include a trade and tourism fair, a conference on the north-eastern region's tourism venues and a photo exhibition.

Located in the valley of the Da and Ma rivers, about 300km north-west of Ha Noi, the north-eastern province has a picturesque landscape created by mountain ranges, primeval forests and a valley.

The Moc Chau Plateau in Son La is famous for its cool climate as well as its vast tea and flower farms. There are also 50,000 cattle in the area.

Eco-tourism and farm tourism seem to be ideal models for the plateau as the number of visitors increases every year.

Rich culture created by different ethnic groups, including Thai, Muong, Mong, Dao, Kho Mu, Tay, La Ha, also contributes to cultural and community tourism in Son La.

Chairman Minh also revealed plans to support tourism, including a master plan for tourist spots in the province, further investment in tourist infrastructure and encouragement for local people to get involved in community tourism. — VNS