Festival promotes culture of Cai Rang Floating Market

7/13/2017 - 5:07:05 PM

The second Cai Rang Floating Market Culture and Tourism Festival kicked off in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on July 7.

The Cai Rang floating market (Photo: VNA)

The event marks one year since the "Culture of the Cai Rang Floating Market” was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.

A number of activities will be held during the three-day festival, including a composite boat race, a parade of tourism boats, and the making of record-sized banh xeo (a type of savory crepe) – a specialty of southern Vietnam.

The festival will also feature the display of local delicacies, cultural activities and folk games.

Vice Chairman of the Cai Rang district People’s Committee Vuong Cong Khanh said the festival aims to popularise the image of the Cai Rang Floating Market as a tourism highlight of the city. It is also a chance for travel companies to create tours to attract visitors to Can Tho.

The Cai Rang Floating Market, located about 6km from the centre of Can Tho city, has been around for centuries. It is a prime example of the waterway market culture in the southwestern region, where people buy and sell goods on boats.

About 200 – 250 waterway vehicles engage in buying and selling activities at the market every day with agricultural products being the main goods. About 2,000 tonnes of products are sold and bought at the market each day, generating over VND 3 billion (US$132,000) in daily revenue.

The Cai Rang Floating Market has long been a tourism brand of Can Tho and assessed as an attractive destination by both domestic and foreign tourists.

Source: NDO

Hoa Binh’s cultural heritage: Muong Gongs, a timeless cultural treasure

Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.

Preserving, promoting Muong cultural heritage: Upholding Muong culture into contemporary life

Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.

Preserving essence of Muong culture: tradition meets modernity

The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.

Preserving Muong community’s identity – Journey from tradition to modernity: Part 1 – Exploring Muong culture region

The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.

Traditional festivals of Hoa Binh: A rich cultural heritage

For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.

Muong calendar – National intangible cultural heritage

Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.