The Yen Tu Cherry – Yellow Apricot Blossom Festival 2017 opened at Ha Long City Square in the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 11.
It is the fifth-time Quang Ninh has held a cherry blossom festival and the second time that Yen Tu’s iconic yellow apricot blossoms are being displayed at the event, which is co-hosted by the provincial People’s Committee and Japan's Wanokai International Culture Association. A total of 5,000 branches and 50 cherry blossom trees, plus 60 yellow apricot trees planted in Yen Tu mountain range are on display during the five-day event.
In his opening speech, Chairman of Ha Long City People’s Committee Pham Hong Ha said that the festival sought to provide interesting cultural experiences for visitors while strengthening friendship between Quang Ninh and Japanese localities. The opening night featured a fashion show of traditional Vietnamese and Japanese costumes as well as folk songs and dances performed by artists from the two countries.
Nearly 200 booths showcasing products by Japanese and Vietnamese businesses have also been set-up for the event. In the evening of March 11, the 2017 Bauhinia Flower Festival kicked off in the northern province of Son La. Twelve teams from communes and wards in the city eagerly took part in assorted folk games and cultural events at the opening ceremony, such as fish catching, dancing, ‘con’ (cloth ball) throwing, Pieu scarf embroidering, and stilt-walking.
The three-day festival also includes an exhibition of traditional cultures of ethnic groups in the locality, a folk song and dance festival, a book exhibition, and various sporting events.
