The first Red River Festival will be held from March 29 to 31, 2012 (from the eighth to tenth days of the third lunar month) at Dong Cuong Temple (Dong Cuong Commune, Van Yen District, Yen Bai Province) by the Tourism Promotion Information Center (the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Yen Bai Province) and the People's Committee of Van Yen District (Yen Bai Province).

Witchcraft transmission ceremony of the Dao ethnic people (Van Yen District)
The festival aims to develop the cultural values of the Red River in the spiritual life of the people. This activity is a part of the tourism program "Back to Roots" of three provinces of Phu Tho, Yen Bai, and Lao Cai.

As scheduled, the opening ceremony will take place in about 45 minutes with a unique art performance, including four parts: Dance of the Red River, Up waves of the Red River, Alluvial seasons of the Red River and Calls of the Red River.

Besides, there are many exciting activities of culture, arts, sports at the festival such as fair of trade – countryside market - gastronomy; exhibition with the theme of "Red River - past and present"; street exhibition; traditional making process of poonah paper; witchcraft transmission ceremony of the Dao ethnic people (Van Yen District); buffalo fighting festival and troop banquet ceremony of Tran Dynasty; boat racing, tours along the Red River; public arts festival and ethnic costumes show; professional performance arts with the popular opera play of "Brave General Ha Chuong"; presenting films, publishing books to introduce Yen Bai Tourism...

Currently, the Tourism Promotion Information Center of Yen Bai Province and the People's Committee of Van Yen District are promptly carrying out many activities to prepare for the festivals.

The Red River Culture (also known as the Red River Civilization) was formed thousands of years ago and associated with the development of spiritual and material life of the ancient Viet people. The Red River Civilization which represents both cultural identity of a community cohering on a common living area and close cultural exchange with the outside is a source of power to support the Vietnamese people overcome great challenges during over a thousand years of domination by Northern (Chinese) invaders (111 BC – 938 AD). Together with Muong Lo Culture, Chay River Culture, Red River Culture will contribute to promoting comprehensively advantages of Yen Bai tourism and the Red River Delta Region.

By Pham Phuong, compiled by Phuong Anh