The space for the Rice Flower Festival by the river.

When the kapok flowers on the hillsides and riverbanks begin to bud and then burst into vibrant red bloom, it is also the time when the ethnic people here begin a new year with unique traditional festivals and rituals, praying for health, good fortune, and a bountiful harvest in the new year. This is also the time when the spring weather is warm, the sun shines brightly, and the Quỳnh Nhai lake, with its rising water, is a deep blue, reflecting the towering limestone mountains, inviting tourists to visit and enjoy the majestic and poetic atmosphere of the lake.

Delegates and a large number of local people and tourists participated in the Rice Flower Festival along the river.

Comrade Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, along with other delegates, participated in the wrist-tying ceremony.

The festival featured over 150 artisans, performers, and grassroots cultural figures from ethnic folk culture clubs, performing arts groups, and "Preserving Cultural Identity" clubs from villages and sub-districts of communes and towns in the district. The highlight of the festival was a reenactment of an excerpt from the Kin Pang Then Festival of the White Thai people of Quynh Nhai. This is a long-standing traditional festival preserved by the local White Thai people. In 2020, the Kin Pang Then Festival was included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Kin Pang Then Festival, also known as the "Festival of Celebrating Adopted Children," has been maintained for a very long time. Its main purpose is for "adopted children" to express gratitude to those who cured their illnesses and to pray for health, good fortune, and a bountiful harvest in the new year. The festival also features unique performances such as fruit dances, cockfighting dances, conical hat dances, zither dances, and traditional dances, creating a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere and strengthening community solidarity.

Recreating an excerpt from the Kin Pang Then Festival of the White Thai people in Quynh Nhai district.

People's Artist Dieu Van Minh, from Muong Giang town, who is the "mo then" (traditional shaman) leading the reenactment of the Kin Pang Then festival, shared: "For many years, Muong Giang town has maintained a performing arts troupe of elderly people, who are artisans and people who love traditional culture and wish to preserve and promote the culture of our ethnic group. Being able to perform and reenact the festival to serve the public like this makes us very happy, honored, and proud. We feel even more responsible for preserving the traditional culture of our ethnic group."

The wrist-tying ritual of the Black Thai people.

Within the space of the Rice Flower Festival by the river, locals and tourists also witnessed the Wrist-Tying Ceremony (Prayer for Peace Ceremony) of the Black Thai people in Quynh Nhai, held during the New Year with the meaning of wishing for good health, family harmony, and happiness in the new year. The performance was presented by folk artists and the traditional performing arts troupe of Bo Xanh village, Muong Gion commune. This is a long-established performing arts troupe with members from many generations. Under the guidance of elderly artists, the troupe presented viewers with a traditional ceremony full of meaning.

The cultural performances showcased the rich national identity.

Immersed in the festive atmosphere, Ms. Nguyen Bao Trang, a tourist from Hanoi, excitedly shared: "I was very impressed with the performances of excerpts from traditional festivals. The ancient rituals are still being preserved and maintained by the people, which is very valuable. Besides that, the reenactment of the festival also included artistic and entertaining performances, making the atmosphere of the festival more vibrant and exciting, attracting everyone to participate."

Participating in the Rice Flower Festival by the river, locals and tourists can also enjoy impressive performances rich in ethnic cultural identity, such as: traditional Xoe dance and Sap dance of the Thai ethnic group; Thai ethnic musical instrument ensemble, solo performances of the two-stringed fiddle and zither; performances of unique Mong ethnic dances, modern folk dances…

The performance showcased the unique cultural identity of the Hmong ethnic group.

Performance of Hmong flute playing.

Ms. Luong Thi Duyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Nhai District, said: "The Rice Flower Festival by the river is one of the activities within the framework of the Quynh Nhai District Culture, Sports and Tourism Week 2025. With this activity, Quynh Nhai hopes to introduce and promote the unique cultural features and valuable cultural heritage of the ethnic minorities to friends and tourists from near and far. Quynh Nhai District also determined to continue maintaining the annual Culture, Sports and Tourism Week event and activities to revive traditional festivals, and to continue researching and innovating the methods of organization to create a highlight event for Quynh Nhai tourism, attracting more and more tourists and contributing to the preservation and promotion of the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic groups, contributing to the promotion of local tourism."

Experience the bamboo pole dance.

The Rice Flower Festival by the river offers a unique cultural space showcasing the ethnic communities in the Quỳnh Nhai reservoir area. The recreated performances preserve the original identity and values ​​while also incorporating elements that appeal to the audience. This event also brings a vibrant atmosphere and adds appeal to the Quỳnh Nhai District Culture, Sports and Tourism Week 2025, contributing to the dissemination and promotion of the culture and people of the land along the Đà River to a wide range of tourists.

Source: Son La Newspaper