VTV.vn - At this year's Hoa Ban Festival, the Thai Xoe dance performance became a special highlight, featuring colorful performances rich in cultural identity and a spirit of community solidarity.
Xoe Thai dance – a form of folk dance – has been recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. No one knows exactly when the Xoe dance originated, but it is known that since ancient times, the Thai people have had a saying: "Without Xoe, there is no joy; without Xoe, the rice plants will not bloom; without Xoe, the corn will not bear ears; without Xoe, boys and girls will not become couples." Therefore, no celebration or festival of the Thai people is without Xoe dances, whether it's a small family gathering or a major village or local festival.
In the vibrant atmosphere of the 2025 Hoa Ban Festival, Son La city seems to be adorned with a new, dazzling and lively attire. The highlight of the festival is the "Beauty Contest showcasing original and modernized Thai ethnic costumes," a unique cultural event that attracts the attention of many locals and tourists.
The stage for the "beauty pageant showcasing traditional Thai costumes"
The stage was ablaze with color as 24 contestants, representing 12 communes and wards in the city, confidently showcased their graceful beauty in traditional and modern Thai costumes to the accompaniment of folk music. In contrast, at the Northwest Square's bauhinia flower hill, the live performance presented a completely different scene: gentle Thai girls in traditional attire, blending into the pristine white of the bauhinia forest, created a breathtaking spectacle.
A graceful young woman in both original and modernized Thai ethnic costumes.
Sharing her feelings after the competition, contestant Lo Thi Ngoc Anh from Chieng Xom commune expressed her pride: "When wearing the traditional costume, I feel very proud of the cultural identity of my ethnic group. I hope that through this competition, tourists will understand more and love the beauty of Thai culture even more."
Thai dance performance at Northwest Square
The "Beauty Contest for the Traditional and Modernized Thai Ethnic Costume" is not only a unique cultural event but also an opportunity to promote and celebrate the beauty of the costumes, people, and cultural identity of the Northwest Thai ethnic group to domestic and international tourists. The success of the contest has contributed to creating a vibrant and memorable Ban Flower Festival in Son La city.
Source: vtv.vn