Bac Ha White Plateau Festival 2026

On the morning of May 23rd, at the central stadium of Bac Ha commune, the Bac Ha White Plateau Festival 2026 officially opened, attracting a large number of local people and tourists from inside and outside the province. This is the opening event for a series of cultural, sports, and tourism events taking place until May 31st with the theme "The resounding hoofbeats of the plateau horses".

Attending the opening ceremony were Comrade Vu Quynh Khanh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Hoang Thi Thanh Binh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; leaders of several provincial departments and agencies; and members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee.

The highlight of the Festival is the 19th Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament, along with cultural experiences, the Tam Hoa Plum Festival, a night market, traditional craft demonstrations, and unique community tourism activities. Immediately following the opening ceremony, artistic performances showcasing the rich cultural identity of the highlands took place, followed by the qualifying rounds of the Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament, attracting a large crowd of locals and tourists.

On May 24th, Comrade Giang Thi Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Comrade Vu Quynh Khanh, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council,   Comrade Ly Binh Minh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, attended the final round and closing ceremony of the 19th Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament in 2026 ; along with local leaders and a large number of people and tourists from inside and outside the province.  

This year's traditional Bac Ha horse race brought together 93 jockeys from various localities within and outside the province, including Bac Ha, Bat Xat, Si Ma Cai, Son La, Lai Chau , Tuyen Quang, and Thanh Hoa. After exciting qualifying rounds, the Organizing Committee selected 32 outstanding jockeys to compete in the semi-finals and finals. The races were captivating and dramatic, with fierce sprints on the track, attracting enthusiastic cheers from thousands of spectators.

A unique aspect of the competition was that all the jockeys were highland farmers who spent their days working with horses in production and transporting goods; during the festival season, they transformed into "barefoot riders," competing with great skill and a strong spirit of sportsmanship. At the end of the tournament, the Organizing Committee awarded first prize to jockey Giàng A Thương from Y Tý commune; second prize to jockey Lù Văn Dương from Na Áng village, Bắc Hà commune; and third prize to jockey Tráng A Giờ from Y Tý commune, along with many other awards for jockeys with outstanding achievements.

Photo from Lao Cai Online Newspaper.

Within the framework of the final program, delegates, local people, and tourists enjoyed a spectacular art program showcasing the rich cultural identity of the ethnic groups in the Bắc Hà highlands. The highlight was the Sênh Tiền performance by the Mong ethnic group, with the participation of over 1,000 students from Bắc Hà commune, creating a vibrant and colorful cultural atmosphere.

The 2026 Bac Ha White Plateau Festival and the 19th Bac Ha Traditional Horse Racing Tournament are not only annual cultural, sports, and tourism activities, but also important opportunities to promote the natural landscape, cultural identity, and people of Bac Ha to domestic and international tourists. Through the activities of the Festival, Bac Ha continues to affirm its determination to build a distinctive tourism brand, preserve and promote the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups associated with sustainable tourism development.

Source: https://www.laocai.gov.vn/tin-trong-tinh/festival-cao-nguyen-trang-bac-ha-nam-2026-1590763