A Vietnam ethnic minority cultural day will be held for the first time at the culture and tourism village of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups in Son Tay, Hanoi from April 18 to 19, 2009.
A meeting was held in Hanoi on February 18 to collect ideas and opinions for which activities to hold on this first Vietnam ethnic minority cultural day.
On November 17, 2008 the Prime Minster issued a decision to make Vietnam Ethnic Minority Culture Day, and that festivals should be held annual to celebrate this day.
The first festival to be held in Hanoi will be a socio-political and cultural event to glorify the various different cultural identities of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups, which will help educate people on the traditions of patriotism, as helping to improve people’s awareness of the need to preserve and promote the ethnic minority group’s cultural traditions and contribute to consolidating and strengthening the strength of national great unity.
The main activities which will take place during this first festival will include an opening ceremony, a ceremony to announce the Prime Minister’s Decision to set up the day, a book, photo and fine arts exhibition about ethnic minority groups, an exhibition on the traditional handicrafts and tourism and culture products in localities, documentary film showings on ethnic minority culture, a gastronomy culture festival, cultural exchanges and traditional ethnic minority games, traditional sport activities of ethnic minority groups, seminars and meetings with ethnic minority and Vietnamese artists, craftsmen, intellectuals, heads of villages and scientists.
The festival is expected to draw the participation of members of ethnic minority groups from 33 provinces and cities nationwide.