Opening Ceremony of the Son La City Ban Flower Festival 2025.

Attending the opening ceremony were: Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Bui Minh Tan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Department; Ms. Luong Thi Van Anh, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee; Mr. Ha Trung Chien, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the City People's Council; leaders of provincial departments and agencies; members of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, City People's Council, City People's Committee, and City Fatherland Front Committee, along with a large number of tourists and people from inside and outside the province.

Delegates attending the opening ceremony of the festival.

Delegates attending the opening ceremony of the festival.

The opening art program of the festival.

The opening ceremony began with a spectacular artistic program performed by a group of singers, actors, artisans, and amateur performers from the city, featuring songs and dances such as: "The Jewel of the Bauhinia Flower Region," "The Beloved Traditional Dress," "Son La City is So Beautiful,"... praising the beauty of the land and people of Son La City – the friendly and hospitable city of Bauhinia flowers.

The Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee delivered the opening speech for the festival.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Tran Cong Chinh, Vice Chairman of the Son La City People's Committee, emphasized: The Son La City Ban Flower Festival is an opportunity to honor, preserve, and promote the unique traditional values ​​of the 12 ethnic communities in the area, conveying the message of hospitality and friendliness of Son La City to a large number of people and tourists from all over the country. Through this, preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups becomes an advantage and resource to promote economic, trade, service, and tourism development, leading to rapid and sustainable growth, and building a friendly, peaceful, and culturally rich Son La City.

The Party Secretary of the City Committee beat the drum to officially open the festival.

Provincial and city leaders presented commemorative flags to the teams participating in the festival.

At the opening ceremony, the Han Khuong performance was reenacted – a cultural feature of the Thai people. Along with cultural activities such as Xoe dance and Khap singing, Han Khuong has become a unique cultural feature of the Thai people in the Northwest region of Vietnam. Son La City is a land where 12 ethnic groups live together. The Thai people have been residing in the area for a long time.

Reenacting the Han Khuong performance

Dialogue between boys and girls in Hạn Khuống.

A large number of people cheered for the program.

A large number of people cheered for the program.

"Hạn Khuống" is a unique form of folk cultural activity of the Black Thai people. It is usually held when the bauhinia flowers bloom, covering the Northwest region in white, marking the arrival of spring. Hạn Khuống brings immense spiritual value to the lives and emotions of each individual; it is a traditional cultural activity, a unique and exquisite cultural feature of the Black Thai ethnic group, which the city of Sơn La is currently restoring, preserving, and developing.

The Hoa Ban Festival in Son La City is a spiritual and cultural event in the lives of the ethnic groups of Son La - Northwest Vietnam. It expresses the people's reverence and gratitude in remembering the great contributions of the gods and praying for national peace and prosperity, a thriving community, favorable weather throughout the year, and abundant harvests; it also fosters national unity and love for the homeland. The Hoa Ban Festival has become a distinctive cultural brand of Son La City.

The Son La City Ban Flower Festival takes place over two days (March 15th and 16th) with unique cultural and sporting activities, such as: the first-ever "Conquering the Legendary Hai Mountain Peak" competition held in Hai village, Chieng An ward; a reenactment of the Han Khuong Festival; a live performance of Ban Flower beauties in Thai ethnic costumes; a Piêu scarf embroidery competition; a creative circle dance competition; a presentation of Thai ethnic cuisine; competitions in various sports and folk games; a cultural camp competition, camp space design, and other cultural activities...

Source: Son La Newspaper