Ban flower festival to bring beauty of mountains to capital

For the first time, three hundreds of ban (orchid) flower trees from the northwest mountainous region are on display at Hanoi Museum.
Ban flower festival to bring beauty of mountains to capital ảnh 1Three hundred orchid flower trees have been brought to Hanoi to be part of the city's Orchid Tree Flower Festival. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA/VNS) - For the first time, 300 of ban (orchid) flower trees from the northwest mountainous region areon display at Hanoi Museum.

The museum is hosting the first Ban FlowerFestival, which runs until April 14 aiming to honour and preserve culturalheritage of ethnic groups.

The festival also promotes tourism potential andstrengthening contributing to socio-economic development in the region.

“As soon as I know that the Ban Flower Festivalis to be held in Hanoi, I feel very happy and excited,” said Sam Thi Nguyet atthe festival opening ceremony.

“When I come here, it is amazing to see banflower which were brought to Hanoi capital for the first time. It is awonderful chance for the people including Hanoians and other people living in Hanoito better understand the beauty of the mountainous culture. I will also getacquainted with Thai people from other localities and I think that I will havemore understanding about the culture of my own people.”

Nguyet is from the Thai ethnic group in Quy Hop districtin the central province of Nghe An. She is among many young people at the firstday of the festival to enjoy ban flower.

Poet Duong Dinh Trong was also present at thefestival very early. “I am very happy to attend the festival featuring Thaiculture,” Trong said.

“As a citizen of the capital, I hope there willbe more festivals, not only of the Thai people but also that other ethnicgroups will be organised in Hanoi so people can understand more about theculture of ethnic groups in Vietnam.”

Household daily objects of Thai ethnic groupsuch as jar of wine, looms and bamboo tubes to get water create a vivid spaceof the northwest culture to impress the festival-goers.

About 200 booths are set to popular specialityand culinary of the northwest region. The ban flower trees are being taken careof by experts to ensure they stay fresh. Each tree has information attached toit to reveal their origins.

Ban Flower Festival, known as Xen Muong, isorganised annually by the Thai ethnic group in the northwest provinces in thesecond Lunar month to coincide with ban flower bloom.

The festival shows the respect of the gods andthe heroic people and it is also an opportunity to pray for happiness andprosperousness.

The first Ban Flower Festival is held by Tay BacInvestment Promotion & Trade Fair to raise fund for bridge building forchildren going to school and clean water in the mountainous provinces.

The festival is running at the Hanoi Museum, PhamHung Road, Nam Tu Liem district.-VNS/VNA
VNA

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