Lào Cai’s traditional horse racing gets national heritage status

LÀO CAI  Traditional horse racing in Bắc Hà District in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai is among 10 newly recognised as ‘national intangible heritage’ by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Nine others in the list of ‘cultural heritage’ include a festival of the Ba Na ethnic minority in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum; a festival held in Đại Đồng Commune in Vĩnh Tường District, northern Vĩnh Phúc Province; and lace knitting in Thanh Hà Commune, Thanh Liêm District in Hà Nam Province.

The horse racing event is held every spring at the foot of Ba Mẹ Con Mount in the centre of Bắc Hà Town.

It resumed in 2007 after stopping for a long period since 1980, with the aim of conserving and developing traditional cultural values and promoting the region’s image among visitors at home and abroad.

Bắc Hà horses are considered the most beautiful breed in Việt Nam. 

Lào Cai had two other heritages listed among the 10, including the decorative arts on costumes of the Nùng Dín and Mông Hoa ethnic minority groups in Mường Khương and Bắc Hà districts, respectively. Both of them belong to the folk culture category.

The capital city of Hà Nội contributed two events to the list, the traditional festivals in Bắc Từ Liêm and Nam Từ Liêm districts.

Fish sauce production in the island city of Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang Province, and a whale worshipping festival in Cẩm Xuyên District, the central province of Hà Tính also received the recognition. — VNS 

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