First Red River festival in Yen Bai from March 29th-31st

From March 29th to 31st, 2025, the Yen Bai Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism will host the updated Red River Festival in Dong Cuong commune, Yen Bai province. This festival celebrates the diverse cultural values of the regions along the Red River and is part of the tourism program “Returning to the Roots of Vietnamese People,” held in collaboration with the northern mountainous provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, and Phu Tho.

The four-part opening ceremony is scheduled to last for 45 minutes and will feature professional arts performances that highlight the most significant attributes of the Red River.

Cap Sac - traditional maturity ritual of Yao ethnic people

Over the two days of festivities, visitors can enjoy various cultural, sports, and arts activities. These include a local food fair, countryside market, ethnic costume show, Cheo (Vietnam's northern-style opera) performances, and movie screenings. Traditional Vietnamese festivals, such as the Cap Sac ritual of the Yao ethnic people, boat racing, and buffalo fighting events that date back to the Tran dynasty, will also be showcased by local communities during this occasion.

As the largest river system in northern Vietnam, the Red River plays a crucial role in the region's agricultural production and the establishment of the Red River civilization, which is a significant foundation of current Vietnamese culture. The Red River Festival 2025 is expected to provide tourists, particularly those from overseas, with an engaging glimpse of North Vietnam's rich cultural heritage, inspiring them to explore further.