Dien Bien Phu city in the northern mountainous province of DienBien is speeding up preparations for the third Vietnam-Laos-China“con” (colourful fabric ball) throwing festival slated for October25-27.
Participants from the guest Chinese districtof Jiangcheng (Yunnan province) and the Lao district of Nhot U(Phongsaly province) will join others from Muong Te district, Lai Chauprovince and Dien Bien province’s Dien Bien Phu city, Muong Nhe andDien Bien districts at the festival.
Apart from “con”throwing” competitions, the festival will also feature folk games, acooking contest, a costumes beauty pageant, a trade fair on Vietnameseconsumer products, and cultural exchanges.
According to Nguyen Trong Lien, Director of the city’s Culture, Sportand Tourism Centre, this is the first time Dien Bien Phu hosts thefestival. The two previous ones took place in China’s Jiangchengdistrict.
Influenced by the Thai ethnicgroup’s culture, districts of Muong Nhe and Muong Te in Dien Bien andLai Chau together with its neighboring localities of Laos’ Nhot U andChina’s Jiangcheng take turns organising the festival each year.
During festivals and New Year holidays of the Thaiethnic group, “con” hurling is an indispensable folk game. It is oftenheld on a spacious and flat ground where a 15-20m high bamboo pole iserected. Its top is tied with a five-coloured flag and a bamboo-madering wrapped in red paper that serves as the target.
Accordingto Lo Van In, a Thai culture researcher in Dien Bien, “con” symbolisesYang while the bamboo ring embodies Yin. The game shows the harmony ofYin and Yang so that couples who wish to have children excitinglycompete in the game to pray for a child.-VNA
Participants from the guest Chinese districtof Jiangcheng (Yunnan province) and the Lao district of Nhot U(Phongsaly province) will join others from Muong Te district, Lai Chauprovince and Dien Bien province’s Dien Bien Phu city, Muong Nhe andDien Bien districts at the festival.
Apart from “con”throwing” competitions, the festival will also feature folk games, acooking contest, a costumes beauty pageant, a trade fair on Vietnameseconsumer products, and cultural exchanges.
According to Nguyen Trong Lien, Director of the city’s Culture, Sportand Tourism Centre, this is the first time Dien Bien Phu hosts thefestival. The two previous ones took place in China’s Jiangchengdistrict.
Influenced by the Thai ethnicgroup’s culture, districts of Muong Nhe and Muong Te in Dien Bien andLai Chau together with its neighboring localities of Laos’ Nhot U andChina’s Jiangcheng take turns organising the festival each year.
During festivals and New Year holidays of the Thaiethnic group, “con” hurling is an indispensable folk game. It is oftenheld on a spacious and flat ground where a 15-20m high bamboo pole iserected. Its top is tied with a five-coloured flag and a bamboo-madering wrapped in red paper that serves as the target.
Accordingto Lo Van In, a Thai culture researcher in Dien Bien, “con” symbolisesYang while the bamboo ring embodies Yin. The game shows the harmony ofYin and Yang so that couples who wish to have children excitinglycompete in the game to pray for a child.-VNA
