A golden opportunity to promote culture and cuisine.

As a land with a long-standing cultural tradition, Vinh Phuc still preserves nearly 400 unique festivals, which have the value of uniting the community. These festivals, preserved and maintained annually, contribute to promoting the distinctive cultural beauty and traditional cuisine of Vinh Phuc to friends near and far, creating an attraction for tourists and boosting tourism development.

Five-colored sticky rice, a unique dish of the Cao Lan ethnic group in Quang Yen commune (Song Lo district), was introduced to tourists at the Rice Planting Festival. Photo: Kim Ly

The Tay Thien (Tam Dao) Festival is held annually in the second lunar month to commemorate and express gratitude for the merits of Queen Mother Tay Thien - Lang Thi Tieu, who helped King Hung VII fight invaders and protect the borders.

Comrade Do Quoc Trong, Head of the Tay Thien Scenic Area Management Board, said: "The special attraction for tourists at the Tay Thien festival is the unique blend of Mother Goddess worship and Buddhist culture. The main festival day will feature several rituals such as the procession of the National Mother Goddess palanquin, incense offering, and Mother Goddess worship, along with traditional cultural, sports , and artistic activities such as Van singing and Chau Van singing about the Three Realms and Tay Thien Mother Goddess worship, a folk song festival, and traditional games like tug-of-war, stick pushing, cockfighting, sack racing, catching eels in a jar, and traditional wrestling..."

Along with unique rituals, the festival space is also attractive because of the distinctive culture of the San Diu ethnic group, expressed through traditional costumes and performances of Soong Co folk songs.

This year's festival also features a trade fair showcasing local OCOP (One Commune One Product) products, introducing traditional handicrafts, agricultural products, beverages, and famous local specialties of the province, creating a highlight to attract tourists.

At the Tay Thien festival, visitors can enjoy many characteristic dishes of the local people. Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet, owner of Van Hoa Restaurant in Den Thong residential area, Dai Dinh town, said: "During the festival season, the restaurant welcomes 100-200 guests per day. The restaurant always focuses on improving service quality; strengthening the promotion and introduction of characteristic dishes and local products such as chayote, wild boar meat, catfish, sturgeon, sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, stream goby fish, bamboo shoots, glutinous rice wine, humpback sticky rice cakes, vegetarian dishes… to tourists. The restaurant always prioritizes food safety and hygiene, and sells at the listed prices to create a good impression on tourists ."

The food display booth of the Cao Lan ethnic group in Quang Yen commune at the Rice Planting Festival attracted many locals and tourists from all over to visit and enjoy the dishes. Photo: Kim Ly

Held annually in January, the "Going Down to the Fields" festival (also known as the "Long Tong" festival) is a beautiful cultural tradition of the Cao Lan ethnic group in Quang Yen commune (Song Lo district). This ancient traditional festival carries the meaning of expressing the people's wishes for a prosperous year, abundant harvests, good health for everyone, and peace, warmth, and prosperity for all families.

The festival consists of two parts: the ceremonial part and the festive part. The ceremonial part includes the presentation ceremony, the incense offering ceremony, and the prayer for a good harvest. The offerings are meticulously prepared, including sticky rice, ceremonial chicken, fruits, bird-shaped cakes, and mouse-shaped cakes. These cakes and the five-colored sticky rice are all characteristic dishes of the Cao Lan ethnic group. The bird-shaped cakes, made from upland sticky rice wrapped in wild pandan leaves, are elaborately shaped and have a distinctive aroma and flavor.

According to Mr. Tran Van Quan, head of Xom Moi village, Quang Yen commune, bird-shaped cakes and mouse-shaped cakes are very popular with tourists attending the Rice Planting Festival. Many tourists also learn about the legends behind these cakes and learn how to make them under the guidance of local people.

Besides its distinctive cuisine, the Down to the Fields Festival also features lively festivities with traditional dances and folk songs, along with many traditional games. Organizing the Down to the Fields Festival annually contributes to preserving and conserving the beautiful traditional culture of the ethnic minority communities.

Beyond their purely religious significance, festivals create a space for community cultural activities, contributing to the education of traditional values ​​for the younger generation, fostering a connection to their roots, and building a civilized and cultured way of life. Promoting the cultural and culinary values ​​of these festivals will provide impetus for tourism development and increase income for local people.

To enhance the attractiveness to tourists, promotional and presentation methods for unique culinary culture need to be continuously innovated; the application of information technology in the restoration, preservation, and promotion of traditional cultural values ​​should be strengthened; and diverse approaches to introducing local cultural features and products to tourists should be developed to effectively exploit potential and advantages.

Quynh Huong

Source: https://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/124370/Co-hoi-vang-quang-ba-van-hoa-am-thuc