The Bac Ninh Festival, a major cultural event in the north every four years, which opens tonight, Mar 15 and runs until Mar 17, gathers some 6,000 local artisans and artists this year.

The festival, to open at 8pm at the Kinh Bac Cultural Center in Bac Ninh city tonight, features a host of activities including processions and offerings, exhibitions of provincial press publications and a competition of ornamental birds and fish.

The festival takes place mainly at Bac Ninh city, Tu Son town and Gia Binh, Que Vo, Thuan Thanh, Tien Du and Yen Phong districts.

According to organizers, the festival is expected to welcome some 100,000 visitors.

At the opening, the provincial authorities will also receive two certificates of recognition as special relics on iconic Dau and But Thap pagodas.

The province’s five national treasures, including a Bodhisattva statue at Phat Tich pagoda, a stone dragon at Le Van Thinh Temple, and three Tam The (Past, Present and Future) Buddha statues at Linh Ung pagoda.