The People’s Committee of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang launched the 100th festival of Khau Vai Love Market – a unique cultural practice of locals in Khau Vai commune in Meo Vac district – on April 29 evening.
Khau Vai Love Market – one of the most unique markets in Vietnam (Source: caonguyenda.edu.vn)
Ha Giang (VNA) – The People’s Committee of the northern mountainousprovince of Ha Giang launched the 100th festival of Khau Vai Love Market – aunique cultural practice of locals in Khau Vai commune in Meo Vac district – onApril 29 evening.
Vice Chairman of theprovincial People’s Committee Tran Duc Quy said that the market has been heldannually in Khau Vai on the 27th day of the third lunar month since 1919.
On the day, localethnic women and men put on their best traditional costumes and go to themarket where they are free to meet their former lovers in public.
Husbands and wivesarrive at the market together and start looking for their past partners amongthe crowd. Spouses do not get angry or jealous because the meeting at themarket is supposed to be a temporary moment and does not affect their dailylives or relationship.
According to folklore,a man and a woman were deeply in love but were forbidden to be together becausethey were from different ethnic groups. A conflict later took place between thetwo tribes, resulting in bloodshed for both. To stop the fierce fight, thecouple decided to part ways with broken hearts. They, however, promised to meetonce every year in the market in Khau Vai commune on the 27th of the thirdlunar month.
Going to the festival,which will end on May 1, visitors are offered a chance to enjoy artperformances, participate in folk games, and watch rowing on Nho Que river andHa Giang International Marathon Race.
On this occasion, aceremony was organised to announce UNESCO’s recognition of Dong Van KarstPlateau as a global geopark for the second time.
Dong Van plateau wasrecognised as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks in 2010, becomingVietnam’s first geological park and the second in Southeast Asia.
Covering a total areaof 2,356 km2, it is 80 percent limestone and contains the fossils of thousandsof species of prehistoric creatures from 400-600 million years ago.
It is also home toover 250,000 people from 17 different ethnic groups, who boast unique culturesthat have been fostered over the centuries.-VNA
The Khau Vai Love Market festival took place in Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac district of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang on May 11, spotlighting the unique cultures of ethnic groups in the locality.
Endowed with breathtaking and untouched natural landscapes, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang is one of the most alluring destinations in Vietnam.
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.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Khau Vai Love Market – one of the most unique markets in Vietnam (Source: caonguyenda.edu.vn) 
