Bac Ninh (VNA) – The “Returning to the Heritage Region – 2026” Festival will take place from late March to early April, featuring a series of cultural and tourism activities to promote Bac Ninh province’s land, people and distinctive heritage to domestic and international visitors.
The information was announced at a meeting on February 24 chaired by Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Son.
A key highlight will be a ceremony to receive a UNESCO certificate recognising Dong Ho folk painting as an item on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, along with the announcement of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac complex as a World Cultural Heritage site. The festival opening is scheduled for 8:00 on March 28 at February 3 Square
The event aims to honour internationally recognised cultural values, raise public awareness of heritage preservation, and turn cultural assets into resources for tourism and local socio-economic development.
The festival's highlights include performances of UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritages by art troupes from across the country and an exhibition showcasing the diversity of intangible heritage from different regions.
A Vietnamese folk painting exhibition will be held from March 26–30 at the Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Centre in Thuan Thanh, introducing major traditional genres and recreating the traditional Dong Ho painting market.
Other activities include the Bac Ninh "Quan ho" folk singing contest, thematic exhibitions on world heritage and ethnic cultures, and experiential programmes under the theme of “Spring journey in the Quan ho singing land”.
Visitors can also enjoy pedestrian streets with music and cuisine, water puppetry, folk games, OCOP product displays, trade and tourism fairs, and themed tours exploring the heritage region, along with a FAM trip for travel businesses.
Sport events such as traditional wrestling competitions, wrestling championships and an olympic run will also be organised.
The festival is expected to attract a large number of visitors and further promote Bac Ninh as a distinctive cultural tourism destination in northern Vietnam./.
