People in Hanoi can now explore the unique culture, trade and tourism potential of Tay Ninh, a southern province only 100km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, at a three-day festival that kicked off in the Vietnamese capital on Friday night.

The opening ceremony for the 'Tay Ninh Day in Hanoi' took place at the Ly Thai To flower garden near the capital's iconic Hoan Kiem Lake, featuring original performing arts of ethnic minority Cham and Khmer people in the southern province.

The event highlighted a wide variety of intangible cultural heritages of the province, which borders Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia, such as don ca tai tu - a traditional musical art of southern Vietnam, Chhay-dam drum dance and Cham dance.

Chhay-dam drum dancing is a unique art form of Khmer people in Tay Ninh that was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2015, while Cham dance is a typical cultural heritage of the Cham people.

But these are not all that Tay Ninh has to offer. The province also has other national intangible cultural heritages, namely the Linh Son Thanh Mau (Mother Goddess of the Mountain) festival and Trang Bang rice paper.

All of these cultural values are being showcased at the three-day festival themed ‘Beauty of Tay Ninh’ in the Vietnamese capital from September 27-29.

The event was co-organized by the administrations of Hanoi and Tay Ninh and Vietnam Airlines as part of activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the capital’s Liberation Day (October 10).

The second of its kind, the event was aimed at promoting Tay Ninh’s unique culture, trade and tourism potential, as well as attracting investment to the province.

Dancers perform a Chhay-dam drum dance, an intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam, at the opening ceremony of the Tay Ninh Day in Hanoi on September 27, 2019. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

During the course of the festival, a photo exhibition will be held at the pedestrian zone near Ly Thai To Flower Garden, showcasing the natural landscapes, historical sites, traditional craft villages, and festivals of Tay Ninh, as well as its socio-economic and cultural achievements.

Visitors will also have the chance to taste local delicacies, watch music and dancing performances, and study tourism packages at the 30 pavilions placed at the festival by the Tay Ninh tourism department.

Tay Ninh’s food specialties include soursops, durians, rice paper, smoked beef and shrimp salt.

Visitors are seen at a specialty booth at the Tay Ninh Day in Hanoi on September 27, 2019. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Visitors can reach Tay Ninh from Ho Chi Minh City via motorbikes or take passenger buses that depart from the An Suong Bus Station in Hoc Mon District.

Once in Tay Ninh, tourists can explore such popular destinations as Ba Den Mountain, Cao Dai Great Temple, Lo Go Xa Mat National Park, and the base of Central Committee for South Vietnam in the American war in Vietnam, which is a national special relic.

Another must-visit destination is the Chot Mat Ancient Tower, a Khmer structure believed to be built in the 8th century during the Oc Eo civilization.

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