Ha Giang’s Khau Vai love market festival to start in April 28

Ha Giang (VNA) – The 100th festival of Khau Vai Love Market – a unique cultural practice of locals in Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac district of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, will be held from April 28 to May 1.

Within the festival’s framework, Ha Giang will hold a ceremony to announce UNESCO’s recognition of Dong Van Karst Plateau as a global geopark for the second time.

The opening of the festival will be organise on April 29 night, during which visitors will have opportunities to enjoy various festive activities such as love singing and rowing on Nho Que river, along with local dishes.

An international marathon will also be held.

The Khau Vai Love Market is a popular attraction in Ha Giang, even though it is held only once a year.

On the 27th day of the third lunar month, local ethnic women and men put on their best traditional costumes and go to the market where they are free to meet their former lovers in public.

Husbands and wives arrive at the market together and start looking for their past partners among the crowd. Spouses do not get angry or jealous because the meeting at the market is supposed to be a temporary moment and does not affect their daily lives or relationship.

According to folklore, a man and a woman were deeply in love but were forbidden to be together because they were from different ethnic groups. A violent conflict later took place between the two tribes, resulting in bloodshed for both. To stop the fierce fight, the couple decided to part ways with broken hearts. They, however, promised to meet once every year in the market in Khau Vai commune on the 27th of the third lunar month.

Ha Giang has been an attractive destination among visitors for its stunning landscapes and diverse cultural values.

Among popular tourism destinations are Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, Lung Cu Flag Pole, Ma Pi Leng Peak and Dong Van Town Old Quarter.-VNA