Red River Festival 2025: Lao Cai honors cultural identity of ethnic groups
On the evening of November 20, 2025, at Dinh Le Square (Lao Cai ward), the Opening Ceremony of the Ethnic Cultural Space displaying culture - tourism, performing folk cultural activities rituals and arts of Lao Cai ethnic groups took place in an exciting atmosphere, attracting a large number of people and tourists. This is one of the prominent activities within the framework of the Red River Festival 2025.
Delegates attending the opening ceremony.
Attending the opening ceremony were comrade Nguyen Thanh Sinh, Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee; representatives of departments, boards, sectors along with a large number of people, tourists inside and outside the province.
Leading comrades cutting the ribbon to open the ethnic cultural space activity.
The cultural space is organized to promote and honor the unique cultural values of the ethnic communities in the Red River basin in general and Lao Cai province in particular – where the Red River flows into Vietnam. With an open space design, the event brings opportunities for tourists to directly experience indigenous cultural life through each artifact, folk song tune, folk dance, folk game; thereby deeply feeling the origin and journey of preserving the culture of ethnic communities.
Special art programs.
The activities series takes place from November 18 to 24, 2025 with 13 display and experience areas, of which are 12 cultural spaces according to each ethnic group and ethnic branch, recreating traditional rituals, performing folk songs – folk dances, handicrafts, displaying daily utensils, musical instruments, costumes, local products, and typical OCOP products. A separate space is arranged for performing and experiencing folk games, creating a highlight for exchange and interaction with visitors.
Prominent display activities include: Photo and artifact exhibition with the theme "Red River Culture – Converging Colors", introducing the life, beliefs, and festivals of riverbank residents; display of publications and documents with the theme "Red River Cultural Journey", recreating historical – cultural flow through periods; display, introduction, and promotion of investment – tourism of Lao Cai province, promoting OCOP products and potential destinations.
Delegate comrades visiting the ethnic cultural space.
Besides, documentary exhibitions are organized at three thematic spaces: "Red River Culture – Characteristics and historical values"; "Lao Cai – Destination in the Red River cultural journey"; "Cooperation for development of Red River basin and Yunnan – China". Simultaneously, the online exhibition with the theme "Red River – Past, present and future" introducing 100 typical publications, presented at the opening ceremony and posted on online platforms of the Provincial Library.
A large number of people attending the opening ceremony participating in experiencing the cultural space.
Parallel to that is a series of art performance activities throughout, including: Ethnic orchestra "Sounds of the Great Wilderness"; performance of folk cultural activity rituals; art program with the theme "Harmonized Identity"; stylized ethnic fashion show " Highlands’ coy allure".
The Ethnic Cultural Space at Red River Festival 2025 promises to bring rich experiences, contributing to honoring the cultural identity of ethnic groups, while promoting the image of Lao Cai – a land rich in tradition and unique tourism potential.
