The People’s Committee of Ninh Thuan Province in south-central Vietnam held a ceremony on Thursday night to launch the Grape – Wine Festival 2023 in a bid to honor the province’s grape growers.

The opening ceremony of the fest was attended by Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, as well as several other high-ranking officials.

Speaking at the event, Deputy PM Ha said that Ninh Thuan farmers’ diligence and non-stop efforts to grow several varieties of grapes have contributed to the province fast becoming a must-visit tourist destination.

Products made from grapes such as wine and syrup help diversify tourism products in the province.

"The Grape –Wine Festival offers a chance to honor significant contributions by grape farmers, entrepreneurs, and scientists," Ha stated.

"It also opens up great networking opportunities.

"The festival seeks to popularize Ninh Thuan’s grape and wine brand in both the domestic and global markets."

Tran Quoc Nam, chairman of the Ninh Thuan Province People’s Committee, said that the fest is meant not only to honor grape growers and the value of vines and grape-based products, but also to build a grape and wine brand capable of luring tourists to the province.

The festival has been held biennially since 2014.

“The fest plays a key role in boosting the province’s potential for agricultural, sea-based economic, cultural, and tourism development,” Nam underscored.

Various programs are being organized within the framework of this year’s fest, which is set to wrap up on Sunday, including a ceremony to receive UNESCO recognition for the pottery art of Vietnam’s Cham ethnic group as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection.

With skillfulness and pottery-making tools, Vietnam’s Cham ethnic artisans have produced numerous items to serve daily activities, according to Deputy PM Ha.

These pottery items both show the creativity and skills of the Cham ethnic people and reflect their culture and daily life.

“We are delighted and proud of the pottery art of the Cham ethnic group as this is the first Vietnamese traditional craft to be honored on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, and the 15th intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam to be included in such a list,” Ha said.

State President Thuong and a working delegation on Thursday afternoon visited the Bau Truc pottery village in Phuoc Dan Town under Ninh Phuoc District.

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