The carnival will be the highlight of the Dien Bien Ban Flower Festival.

Bauhinia flowers bloom white on the summit of Tang Quai Pass, Muong Ang commune, Dien Bien province. Photo: Thanh Binh

After more than 10 editions, the Hoa Ban Festival has become a distinctive tourism brand of Dien Bien province, held annually in March.

According to the leaders of the Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee, the highlight of the 2026 Hoa Ban Festival is the opening art program taking place on the evening of March 21st at the Provincial Stadium.

The program, scheduled to be broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV), will be elaborately staged, harmoniously combining traditional art with modern digital technology .

Street parade in Tuan Giao commune, Dien Bien province. Photo: Quang Dat

On the evening of March 22nd, visitors will be immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the street carnival, including a parade of model vehicles and street art performances along the main streets of Dien Bien ward. The program will also feature a high-altitude fireworks display.

The "Legend of U Va" live performance show will take place from March 20-26 in U Va village, Thanh Yen commune. The show will showcase the legends, history, and unique folk dances of the Thai ethnic group.

Besides arts, sporting events are also organized on a large scale, including the Road Cycling Race and the "Towards Dien Bien Phu Open 2026" Cross-Country Race.

The Hoa Ban Festival has ancient origins. Photo: Thanh Binh.

In particular, visitors will witness competitions steeped in the heroic memories of the Dien Bien Phu campaign, such as: the bicycle cart pushing and ammunition transport competition (March 21-22 at the Muong Thanh bridge area); and the artillery pulling competition (March 20 at the A1 Hill area).

In addition, there are folk games reflecting the unique culture of the highlands, such as corn grinding competitions and rice cake pounding, which take place on Muong Thanh pedestrian street.

Within the framework of the festival, visitors also have the opportunity to experience diverse culinary culture through the Cultural Experience Space on Muong Thanh pedestrian street with the following sections: "Where Hands Tell Stories" (handicrafts), "Flavors of Dien Bien" (cuisine) and "Market - OCOP Village".

The Hoa Ban Festival is held annually by Dien Bien province in mid-March – coinciding with the start of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. Photo: Quang Dat

In addition, Dien Bien province also organizes other attractive hands-on experiences such as: experiencing cooking in the "Hoang Cam Kitchen," a soldier's meal at historical sites; the Hoa Ban Festival - the land of stilt houses of the White Thai ethnic group in Muong Lay ward; and a program of visiting, admiring Hoa Ban flowers and participating in cultural exchanges in ancient Hoa Ban forests and tourist villages...

According to Mr. Tran Hai Ha, Acting Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dien Bien province, the Hoa Ban Festival was first organized by Dien Bien province in 2014 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. Since then, the festival has been held annually, starting on March 13th, the same day the Dien Bien Phu Campaign began.

However, in 2026, the Hoa Ban Festival will open about a week later to focus on an important national event: the election of National Assembly and People's Council representatives at all levels for the 2026-2031 term.

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/tin-tuc/carnaval-se-la-diem-nhan-tai-le-hoi-hoa-ban-dien-bien-1651991.html