Hundreds of sheep to help welcome New Year in south-central Vietnam
Wednesday, December 27, 2023, 11:47 GMT+7
Hundreds of sheep will don colorful costumes for a parade on Thursday at a square in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam as part of a festival scheduled for Tuesday through Sunday to welcome the New Year.
The sheep parade is scheduled to take place at Muoi Sau Thang Tu Square in Phan Rang-Thap Cham City, Ninh Thuan Province, starting at 5:00 pm on Thursday.
This event is part of the 'Ninh Thuan Cuisine Festival – Welcome the New Year 2024' program, the event organizers said.
The parade will last for an hour so that locals and tourists can take photos with the sheep, which will don clothing themed after Christmas and the New Year.
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| The organizers measures a sheep to prepare its costume. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre |
Ha Nguyen Huy Hau, a resident in Ninh Hai District, Ninh Thuan Province, said his family picked 50 most beautiful sheep for the parade.
“We are taking care of them so that they will have great fleece,” Hau said.
To maintain a clean and orderly event, the organizers have decided to feature about 300 sheep instead of the initially planned 1,000, said Nguyen Van Hoa, director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
The chosen sheep hail from Phan Rang-Thap Cham City and various districts including Ninh Hai, Thuan Bac, Ninh Phuoc, Thuan Nam, and Bac Ai, with 50 of them selected from each district and city.
“The sheep will be washed and decorated before they are transported to Muoi Sau Thang Tu Square," Hoa said.
“This is the first time for Ninh Thuan to organize a sheep parade, and it will be a highlight to attract domestic and foreign visitors for the New Year 2024.”
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| The organizers say that they are nearly finished tailoring the sheep costumes. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre |
In addition to the sheep parade, local residents and tourists will have a chance to experience the province’s diverse and special cuisine, with more than 80 booths of dishes and One Commune One Product (OCOP) products within the framework of the 'Ninh Thuan Cuisine Festival - Welcome the New Year 2024' program.
Visitors can also join street art activities and games.
Nguyen Long Bien, vice-chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the program was aimed at promoting the province’s tourism and developing its cuisine.
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| The sheep wear costumes prepared by the organizers of the ‘Ninh Thuan Cuisine Festival – Welcome the New Year 2024’ program. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre |
Ninh Thuan has the most sheep in Vietnam with 160,000 units, according to the statistics of the Ninh Thuan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Sheep flocks are mainly raised in Ninh Son, Ninh Phuoc, Ninh Hai, Thuan Nam, Thuan Bac, and Bac Ai Districts.
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| A sheep dons a costume. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre |
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| Many sheep are not accustomed to the costumes, so they try to wiggle out. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre |
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| A sheep wears a neckerchief. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre |
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| The sheep costumes will follow a Christmas and New Year theme. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre |
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