The three-day festival includes a palanquin procession, art performances and folk games such as tug of war, stick pushing, crossbow shooting, chess and volleyball.
Vietnamese people show their gratitude towards their ancestor Mother Au Co during the festival, which also helps preserve and promote national cultural identity and unity.
The festival is the first event in the ‘Traveling to the Roots’ 2012 series held jointly by Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces.
* On the same day, the Long Tong (Going to the Field) festival kicked off in Da Vi commune, Na Hang district, Tuyen Quang province, featuring traditional rituals and folk games such as Con (cloth ball) throwing and chess.
* In other festivals across the north, thousands of Mong people in Ta Giang Phinh commune, Sapa district, Lao Cai province, began the Gau Tao festival to pray for peace and good luck on January 28, the sixth day of the first lunar month.