Northern mountainous region’s tourism, cuisine promoted in Hanoi

The Culture and Tourism Week of Hanoi and six provinces of northern mountainous (Viet Bac) region will kick off at 20:00 on April 16 at Ly Thai To Flower Garden, in the heart of Hanoi and its adjacent areas. It is part of the "Through the Viet Bac heritage regions" programme held to promote tourism among 6 provinces in Viet Bac region, namely Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Lang Son. The Culture Tourism Week features an array of activities to honour and promote the diverse and unique cultural vestiges of the Viet Bac provinces. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The activities form part of the culture and tourism week in the region, comprising the six northern mountainous provinces of Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, and Thai Nguyen provinces. Also included is Bac Kan, Cao Bang and Lang Son provinces, and Hanoi. The opening ceremony will be held in the capital city on the night of April 16. Along with specialties from the localities, the programme features art performances highlighting traditional culture of residents in the region. The week marks the first time the annual “Travelling through heritage areas of Viet Bac region” programme, in its 13th edition was organised to promote local tourism in Hanoi. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Farm produce from Dong Van Karst Plateau, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang was transported to the capital city of Hanoi as a special treat and part of the culture and tourism week. Dong Van Karst Plateau is 1,000 -1,600 metres above the sea level, covering the four districts of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac. The region is home to 17 ethnic minority groups, including the Mong people. Dong Van is well-known for its severe climate, extreme shortage of arable lands and water resources. This makes it a challenge for the ethnic farmers to grow rice, and they instead cultivate corn, summer squash, carrots, and cabbage. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

With three major tourism routes, the northern border province of Cao Bang gives visitors the opportunity to explore all landscapes and cultures of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark. The park is one of the most impressive attractions of the province, which has been recognised as a UNESCO global geopark, the second of its kind in Vietnam. Boasting spectacular beauty, the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark has become a highlight of Cao Bang province. It helps the locality boost its tourism development and promote its unique culture. Located in the north of Vietnam, 300km from Hanoi, the Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark covers 3,000 sq.km. It covers six districts of Ha Quang, Tra Linh, Quang Yen, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang, Phuc Hoa, and part of Hoa An, Nguyen Binh and Thach An districts. The geopark is home to nine ethnic groups including Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao and the San Chay people.

The centre for tourism and trade promotion of the six provinces see the culture week as a golden opportunity to recover the smokeless industry post pandemic. The Viet Bac region has huge potential to boost tourism development with well-known destinations such as Ba Be Lake (Bac Kan province), Dong Van Karst Plateau (Ha Giang province), Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang province), and Na Hang hydropower reservoir (Tuyen Quang province). This region is also the seat of the resistance government during the war to reclaim Vietnam from the French. The region houses many ethnic groups with diversified cultures making it a destination for anyone interested in a peak back in time at the region’s culture and history. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Cao Bang is home to nine ethnic minority groups, including the Tay, Nung and Giao. The groups are mostly found in Tra Linh, Quang Uyen, Phuc Hoa and Trung Khanh districts. Their unique cultural identities have become an attraction for Cao Bang tourism. Visiting Cao Bang, tourists will have a chance to experience the craft of making incense of Nung An people in Phia Thap village. Handed down from generation to generation. All villagers know how to make incense from natural materials found in the locality. They can also enjoy dozens of folk festivals such as Quang Uyen firework festival, Nang Hai Phuc Hoa Festival, and “long tong” (going to the field) Festival of Taym Nung, Dao and San Chi people, along with special dishes. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Colourful masks made by the Tay ethnic minority group in Cao Bang province illustrate a community folk story. Singing is another cultural facet of the Tay ethnic group. The Tay believe Then singing was handed down from God belonging to a mysterious world to which only “Ong Then” and “Ba Then” can contact. During rituals, “Ong Then” and “Ba Then” sing and play a musical instrument at the same time while presenting offerings to God. This is the way the group contacted God on behalf of the community to ask for good health, bumper crops, happiness and a long life. The art combines a wide range of forms such as literature, music, painting and performance. It has had an impact on local and national identity through its influence on literature, poetry, music, dance, and spiritual practices. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Traditional outfits of ethnic minority groups in the northern mountainous region are displayed at the event. Thai Nguyen province hosted the 12th programme travelling through heritage areas of the Viet Bac region. This covers the six northern-western provinces of Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen and Lang Son. The programme is held annually to promote the culture and tourism of the six localities and has great tourism potential. The programme was scheduled to take place in Thai Nguyen in 2020 but was delayed to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 13th edition is co-organised by Hanoi and Ha Giang province from April 15-17. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Hand-made embroidery of the Tay ethnic on burlap cloth of the Mong ethnic minority group. The image of Tay women sitting beside looms to weave brocade used to be a familiar sight in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang. The ethnic group is well-known for the colourful and stunning patterns which were passed down from generation to generation. Each pattern is a combination of bright and cool colours placed harmoniously on an opalescent background. This makes the brocade created by Tay people in Cao Bang Province different from Tay people in other locations, and distinct from other ethnic minority groups. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The annual “Travelling through heritage areas of Viet Bac region” programme spreads over six north-western provinces of Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, and Lang Son. It aims to promote the culture and tourism of the six provinces that have great potential with well-known destinations like Ba Be Lake (Bac Kan), Dong Van Karst Plateau (Ha Giang), Ban Gioc Waterfall (Cao Bang), and Na Hang hydropower reservoir (Tuyen Quang). Six north-western provinces shares many similarities in natural, economic, cultural and social conditions. In addition to their tradition of exchanging and collaborating with each other in various fields, their cooperation in tourism development is crucial, laying a firm foundation for promoting and introducing local landscapes, people, and culture. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The Culture and Tourism Week of Hanoi and six provinces of northern mountainous will run in Hanoi until April 17. It is expected to introduce the cultural space of the six provinces to visitors through many special activities, including exhibitions on the northern region’s cultural heritages, typical products, and unique landscapes. Participating in the program, Hanoi will host a number of exhibitions displaying pictures and models of the capital city's history and culture. As for visitors to the event, they will have the opportunities to experience outstanding cuisine of the northwestern mountainous region, while gaining a deeper insight into the region’s tourism development. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Traditional outfits and musical instruments of the Tay ethnic in Bac Kan province are on display during the event. The ethnic group believe Then singing was handed down from the God belonging to a mysterious world to which only “Ong Then” and “Ba Then” can contact. During rituals, “Ong Then” and “Ba Then” sing and play a musical instrument at the same time while presenting offerings to the god, thus contacting the God on behalf of the community and asking him for things such as good health, bumper crops, happiness and a long life.The art form, which combines a wide range of arts such as literature, music, painting and performance, has had an impact on local and national identities through its influence on literature, language, poetry, music, dance, rituals and spiritual practices. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The image of Tay women sitting beside looms to weave brocade used to be a familiar sight in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang. The Tay ethnics are well-known for the colourful patterns which were passed down from generation to generation. The colour scheme is very important in brocade. There are embossed patterns in vivid colours which stand out against submerged patterns representing the Earth. The colourful embossed patterns symbolise all things found on Earth. That's the way the Tay people perceive the universe. There are 20 different patterns used in their brocade including images of plum, peach and apricot blossoms, rare wild flowers, animals and birds, which are mixed with clouds in the sky, mountains and rivers. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Lang Son province on Vietnam's northern border is visited more by local traders then international tourists, yet it still deserves its place on Vietnam gastronomic map thanks to two of the region's culinary specialties. Roast duck with ‘moc mat’ leaves is a staple of Lang Son province. Other ingredients are dried onion, garlic, chilli, honey, salt, sugar, and pepper. They are minced and stuffed inside the duck before roasting it over charcoal. The leaves’ essential oil helps release the fishy smell from the duck and makes it more fragrant and tasty. The mouth-watering, glossy skin is produced by dipping the duck in boiling water laced with honey, roasting it over coals for 15 minutes and then deep-frying for another 15 minutes. (Photo: VietnamPlus)