The Lotus Festival in Dong Thap takes place every two years, contributing to honoring the value of the lotus and spreading the image of the people, culture, and aspirations for development of the "Land of Pink Lotuses" Dong Thap.
At the Lotus Culinary Space, Mr. Duong Huy Hoang, manager of Yen Vy Kon Tum leaf salad restaurant, said: "Leaf salad is a specialty dish originating from the old Kon Tum province, now Kon Tum ward, Quang Ngai province."
This dish is deeply rooted in the culture of the Ba Na ethnic group. At the Lotus Festival, the leaf salad is served with a dipping sauce made from fermented rice grains. To match the theme of the Lotus Festival, the restaurant added lotus to the dipping sauce, creating a sweet, creamy flavor and the natural aroma of Dong Thap lotus in the sauce.”
A booth at the lotus-themed food court.
A lotus-themed food court with attractively decorated stalls. (Photo: HUU NGHIA)
Also at the lotus-themed culinary space, many artisans from all over the country expressed their admiration for the land and people of Dong Thap. Artisan Nguyen Thi Hong Yen, who had a booth in the lotus-themed culinary space, shared: “I was very surprised and impressed by the very friendly accent of the people of Dong Thap. Regarding the lotus festival, this time, although it was organized at the ward level, the scale was very large. When participating in the festival, I received very enthusiastic support from the Organizing Committee.”
The festival's appeal surprised me greatly. It certainly contributed to spreading the unique flavors of our local products. Through this, I also learned a lot about culinary techniques, especially those related to lotus."
The success of this year's Lotus Festival lies in its opening night, which featured stories about lotuses told through a modern stage setting, especially the announcement of a Vietnamese record for an artistic portrait recreating a historical context with the theme: "Nguyen Tat Thanh and his father Nguyen Sinh Sac before dawn (1911)" - a work created specifically for the Lotus Festival.
Tourists visit and shop at the Dong Thap Lotus Festival. (Photo: HUU NGHIA)
According to observations by reporters from Nhan Dan Newspaper, the lotus-themed culinary space is one of the outstanding highlights of this year's Lotus Festival.
With 25 attractively decorated stalls and professional chefs from 4- and 5-star restaurants and hotels belonging to the Saigontourist Group, the festival offered dishes elevated in a modern culinary style, with a focus on lotus ingredients, providing many unique and novel experiences.
The festival also includes an exhibition space for lotus products, OCOP products, and regional specialties, with the participation of 126 units and businesses from within the province and 4 neighboring provinces and cities.
The artistic lotus pathway has created attractive cultural experiences and activities such as workshops and trekking to explore Tan Thuan Dong islet, leaving many positive impressions on locals and tourists.
Tourists visit and shop at the Dong Thap Lotus Festival.
Tourists visit the artistic lotus-lined street.
Besides the hundreds of thousands of lotus pots blooming together throughout the streets, the festival space also featured 34 brightly colored hot air balloons and 4 motorized paragliders soaring through the Cao Lanh sky, attracting a large crowd of people to watch and take pictures.
In addition, more than 2,000 women in lotus-patterned ao dai dresses created a vibrant festival scene, rich in cultural identity, contributing a fresh, lively, and attractive highlight for locals and tourists.
According to Bui Quoc Nam, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cao Lanh Ward: "The success of this festival is also reflected in the proud eyes of the people, the friendly smiles of local tourism workers, and the sharing and solidarity of the community in creating a Lotus Festival rich in identity, full of affection and positive energy, leaving behind many humanistic values."
A parade of women in lotus-patterned ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) takes place on the streets of Cao Lanh.
Colorful hot air balloons and motorized paragliders soar through the skies over Cao Lanh.
The leaders of Cao Lanh ward also acknowledged that, alongside the outstanding achievements, the ward recognized the difficulties and limitations in organizing a large-scale cultural and tourism event for the province. Some aspects of coordination, guidance, and connection of activities did not meet the set requirements.
In addition, the weather was unfavorable with heavy rains and thunderstorms, directly affecting the exhibition space, outdoor activities, and visitor services.
Children perform drum and trumpet music on the streets of Cao Lanh.
“It was during those difficult times that the entire political system of Cao Lanh ward, and especially the soldiers, the people, and even tourists, demonstrated the strength of solidarity, working together to support the recovery efforts and ensure that activities continued, leaving behind beautiful images of the people of Dong Thap in the hearts of visitors from near and far,” Mr. Bui Quoc Nam shared.
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/dau-an-mot-mua-hoi-sen-a489917.html
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