Many people and tourists came to watch and cheer on the Thai dance performance.

Thai dance performance at Northwest Square.

Thai Xoe - a folk dance art form has been recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. No one knows exactly when the art of Xoe dance originated, but from ancient times, the Thai people had a saying: "Without Xoe, there is no joy, without Xoe, the rice plant will not bloom, without Xoe, the corn plant will not grow ears, without Xoe, boys and girls will not become couples". Therefore, there is no joy or festival of the Thai people without Xoe dance, whether it is a small happy day of each family or a big holiday of the village or locality.

Military forces participate in the Thai Xoe performance competition of Quyet Thang ward.

Throughout history, from the ancient xoe dances, folk artists have created up to 32 xoe dances that reflect daily activities, such as: "Xe cup" - hat dance, "Xe tang chai" - bottle dance, "Xe kep phac" - vegetable picking, "Xe cable" - bamboo pole dance... the reality of life and dreams and aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous and happy life have been vividly and subtly expressed in each xoe dance.

The Bauhinia flowers create a highlight for the competition.

Children participate in xoè dance competition.

Over many generations, the xoe dance has been preserved and developed. The xoe dance not only appears in traditional festivals, but is also performed in major cultural events, exchange programs, and local tourism promotion. The Thai xoe art is focused on preserving, conserving, and promoting its value by Son La city. Based on 6 traditional ancient xoe dances, including: "Kham khan moi lau" (raising the towel to invite wine); "Pha xi" (tossing four); "don hon" (advancing and retreating); "Nhom khan" (tossing the towel); "Om lom top mu" (clapping in a circle) and "kham khen" (holding hands), the competing teams will perform creative xoe dances.

Many people came to watch and cheer on the Thai dance performance.

In this year’s xoe competition, 12 communes and wards brought elaborate xoe performances, imbued with tradition but no less creative. Each performance is a story told through the sounds of drums, gongs, lively music, the movements of soft hands, leisurely footsteps and bright smiles, and the colorful national costumes of folk artists and extras.

The Piêu scarf and the Ban flowers are used as the main props for the xoe performance.

The special point of this year's competition is that, in addition to scoring 6 traditional xoe dances with creativity according to regulations, beautiful and suitable performing arts, costumes and makeup, the Organizing Committee will give high scores to the xoe performance teams that combine many generations and forces, such as: soldiers, civil servants, teachers, students, and even the elderly all participate in the bustling xoe dances, thereby demonstrating the spirit of community solidarity, the close relationship between the army and the people, creating opportunities for the younger generation to learn, preserve and make Thai xoe a common cultural feature of all classes in society.

Charming Thai girls perform the Thai Xoe dance.

Mr. Deo Van Phong, Chairman of Quyet Thang Ward People's Committee, shared: After more than half a month, more than 80 members including extras from the village art troupe, schools, and military forces stationed in the area have made great efforts to practice, trying to combine traditional xoe and new creations. This year, we used flowers and ban flower petals to create more highlights for the xoe dance. The competition is also an opportunity for communes and wards to exchange, learn and promote creativity in preserving national culture.

Joining the exciting activities of the Ban Flower Festival, the Thai Xoe performance this year was enjoyed by the audience because of the richness of the performances. Many visitors had the opportunity to see the colorful Xoe dances with their own eyes, feel the vibrant atmosphere and immerse themselves in this unique culture.

Thai Xoe performance competition of Chieng Le ward.

Ms. Nguyen Hang Nga, a tourist from Ninh Binh province, shared: I was really impressed by the activities taking place at the Ban Flower Festival in Son La city. Previously, I only knew about xoe through television, but when I saw it live, I was really impressed. The large xoe circles, cheerful music and bustling atmosphere made me clearly feel the connection of the community here. The atmosphere of the competition was bustling, everyone was eager to participate. This is a great way to preserve and promote the national cultural identity.

Mr. Tran Cong Chinh, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, said: The Thai Xoe performance is not only a cultural playground but also an opportunity for generations of Thai people to express their pride and responsibility in preserving their national identity. The Xoe circles not only connect hands but also connect the emotions and spirit of the community. The teams have carefully prepared, invested and been creative in the staging, costumes and performance props. Not only preserving the soul of the Thai Xoe, the communes and wards also have new and creative ways of performing while still honoring the traditional beauty.

Thai dance connects emotions and connects communities.

The Thai Xoe performance competition is not only an artistic playground but also an affirmation of the strong vitality of the national culture. The graceful Xoe circles, connecting hundreds of people, are a symbol of solidarity and close attachment in the life of the Thai community in Son La in particular and the people of the Northwest region in general.

According to: Son La Newspaper