Hanoi (VNA) – The ongoing Spring Fair 2026 has become a vibrant gathering venue where provinces and cities bring not only distinctive local products but also vivid cultural expressions from their regions to the capital city of Hanoi.
Exhibition spaces of Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces in the Central Highlands have made a strong impression by combining agricultural product displays with cultural performances, offering visitors a unique and engaging experience.
Cultural performances create lively highlight
At the fair, Gia Lai is presenting more than 100 agricultural and processed products across a display area of approximately 200 sq.m.
According to Nguyen Thi Bich Thu, Director of the provincial industrial and trade promotion centre, the province's delegation includes 30 participating units, most of them businesses and OCOP (One Commune, One Product) producers involved in agricultural production and processing. Participating in the fair not only promotes local goods but also helps enterprises expand networks, develop distribution systems and connect with major retailers.
Among the participants, Truong Phu herbal tea facility has attracted attention with its products. Owner Nguyen Vu Phu Truong said that direct interactions with customers at the event help the business better understand market preferences and adjust production and product-development strategies accordingly.
Le Thi Nga, a visitor from Long Bien commune of Hanoi, said the Gia Lai exhibition space clearly reflected the atmosphere of the Central Highlands. She particularly appreciated the coffee and pepper displays, noting that OCOP and regional specialty products were well documented and traceable, giving consumers greater confidence when purchasing.
Notably, the Gia Lai exhibition area has been enlivened by performances of Central Highlands traditional musical instruments and Binh Dinh traditional martial arts.
Coach Nguyen Quoc Si from the Binh Dinh traditional martial arts centre in Gia Lai said the group performs about five shows each day. Following the success of their participation in last year’s Autumn Fair, bringing traditional martial arts to the current Spring Fair is seen as a way to introduce a distinctive cultural heritage to a wider audience.
Tran Dinh Huy, a student at the Trade Union University, said he and his peers tend to prioritise unique or reasonably priced products. He added that watching martial arts and traditional music performances was an unexpected highlight, making the experience feel more like attending a festival than simply visiting a market.
Recreating Central Highlands spirit
Dak Lak’s exhibition area covers about 150 sq.m and features a modern design while maintaining the identity of the Central Highlands.
Phan Huu Thanh, deputy director of industrial and trade promotion centre, said the exhibition has brought together 40 enterprises showcasing a diverse range of OCOP and rural industrial products.
Four-star and five-star OCOP goods are prominently displayed in the central area. Alongside key farm produce such as coffee, pepper and durian, the province has also presented processed goods, including specialty coffee, lemongrass essential oil and turmeric starch. This diversity reflects both advances in processing technology and the region’s agricultural potential. Linked-production items such as sea grapes and canned tuna further expand the goods range.
The Dak Lak Culture and Tourism Centre, in coordination with the local Tourism Association, has transformed the exhibition space into a lively cultural stage where the sounds of the T’rung, gongs and Dinh Pa instruments can be heard daily. Visitors can not only shop but also watch, listen and directly experience traditional musical instruments under the guidance of artisans. Tourism publications, maps and promotional tour programmes have been also displayed, encouraging visitors to plan future journeys to the culturally rich region after the Lunar New Year holiday.
Artisan H’Jang Buon Krong said this is her second time representing Dak Lak in Hanoi. Having played the T’rung for more than a year, she views performing not only as a responsibility but also as a way to preserve her community’s traditional music. Performing at a major event provides an opportunity to introduce Dak Lak’s culture to young audiences and first-time visitors to Central Highlands music.
Phung Thanh Hai from Bat Trang commune in Hanoi said live performances at the fair offer a very different experience from watching on screen. With short performances scheduled throughout the day, visitors can enjoy cultural shows while continuing to explore and shop. He noted that this combination creates a harmonious space where shopping and cultural experiences naturally blend into a single journey./.
