President Truong Tan Sang’s February 15 New Year visit to Dong Mo’s Culture Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups on the outskirts of Hanoi coincided with spring festival celebrations.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, gathers together representatives from Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups and overseas Vietnamese visiting home for the Lunar New Year.
President Sang said ethnic minority culture has become part of the Vietnamese nation’s spiritual foundation and inner strength. Such a formidable core means no challenge is too difficult to overcome.
He emphasized Vietnam needs to preserve and uphold the cultural traditions of the Vietnamese nation as the country’s 54 ethnic groups form a strong, united bloc. He said he hopes this get-together honours the culture of each ethnic group and of the Vietnamese nation as a whole.
After planting trees, President Sang joined the Lo Lo ethnic group’s peace prayer festival in Ha Giang province’s Meo Vac district.
The annual festival of Vietnamese ethnic groups across the nation was begun three years ago to showcase the best of Vietnamese culture.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan offered incense in tribute to Vietnam’s First Kings at the Temple and tombs of Kinh Duong Vuong, Lac Long Quan, and Au Co in Bac Ninh province’s Thuan Thanh district.
She beat the drum that opened the festival honouring Kinh Duong Vuong, one of the founders of the Vietnamese nation.
The festival also marked the 4893rd anniversary of the establishment of the nation.
Vice President Doan and Bac Ninh leaders prayed for national peace and prosperity and planted trees at the Kinh Duong Vuong tomb relic site.