Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025 is ready to open

Today (November 19), Lao Cai province jubilantly held the opening ceremony of the Red River Festival 2025 with the theme "Where the Red River flows into Vietnam". This is not only a major cultural event, but also has important political, diplomatic, economic and tourism significance, attracting the attention of a large number of people and tourists. Up to this point, preparations have been completed, ready for the grand opening night and a series of exciting exchange and cooperation events.

Among the country's major rivers, the Red River plays a crucial role in providing abundant water resources to the areas it flows through, especially the vast Red River Delta.

Moreover, the Red River holds significant importance for transportation and trade, while also nurturing the unique cultural values ​​of the glorious Red River civilization that has flourished for thousands of years – the cradle of Vietnamese traditional culture.

For Lao Cai province, the Red River is not only a natural boundary between Lao Cai province and Yunnan province (China), but it has also contributed to the formation of prosperous villages and bustling towns.

Along the Red River, archaeologists have found numerous artifacts from the Stone Age belonging to the Son Vi culture and Bronze Age artifacts belonging to the Dong Son culture – evidence of the existence and development of ancient Vietnamese tribes and clans tens of thousands of years ago.

The Red River, flowing through Vietnamese territory for over 500 km from Lao Cai province to the former Nam Dinh and Thai Binh provinces (now Ninh Binh and Hung Yen provinces), has created a thousand-year-old cultural flow.

According to the plan, the 2025 Red River Festival, themed "Where the Red River Flows into Vietnam," will be inaugurated at 8 PM today (November 19th). Meeting the needs and expectations of the people and tourists, the Red River Festival week will be organized on a large scale, reflecting the rich cultural identity and unique characteristics of Lao Cai, with a series of diverse and attractive activities across many fields.

Notable examples include: Experiencing the "Red River cultural space - a convergence of colors" and the cultural space of ethnic groups; recreating the cultural space of the old Coc Lieu market; the 25th Vietnam-China International Trade Fair (Lao Cai); the Shan Tuyet Tea Festival; the "Red River Festival 2025" Golf Tournament; sports exchange between entrepreneurs and youth of Lao Cai province, Vietnam and Yunnan province, China; and the "One Race - Two Countries" cycling race between Honghe, China and Lao Cai, Vietnam in 2025.

These days, the banks of the Red River are filled with a joyful and bustling atmosphere. Along the roads from Coc Lieu Bridge down to Cam Duong Ward, flags and flowers adorn the streets, welcoming the 2025 Red River Festival.

At the festival's event venues, such as the Kim Thanh Exhibition Center, Coc Lieu Market, Dinh Le Square (Lao Cai Ward), and Nam Cuong Square (Cam Duong Ward), not only were there vibrant flags and flowers, but also large crowds of locals and tourists visiting, experiencing, and anticipating the exciting activities that were about to take place.

Rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025. Photo: Thanh Tuan

These past few days, despite his busy schedule, Mr. Nguyen Trong Diem from Cam Duong ward has made time every afternoon to visit Nam Cuong Square – the venue for the opening ceremony of the Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025. For Mr. Diem, the Red River Festival holds profound significance, transcending the boundaries of a local event.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Diem said: "Not only myself, but perhaps all the people of Lao Cai are deeply moved and proud to see Lao Cai developing in all aspects."

Living and working in the land "where the Red River flows into Vietnam," Mr. Vang Thong Phin, a specialist at the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of A Mu Sung commune, shared: "This time, the people of the ethnic groups in A Mu Sung commune are enthusiastically organizing the National Unity Day. The people are very excited and proud of the changes in their homeland, and even more excited that this year the province is organizing the Red River Festival with many attractive activities. I hope that through this event, many domestic and foreign tourists will learn about the beauty of Lao Cai in general, and of A Mu Sung commune in particular, and come here to visit and experience it."

Locals experience the atmosphere of the old Coc Lieu market.

We met artist Hoang Bao Son while he was strolling along An Duong Vuong Street. After 15 years, he returned to Lao Cai, not on a random trip, but to attend the Red River Festival and perform at the 25th Vietnam-China International Trade Fair (Lao Cai).

Artist Bao Son shared: "Fifteen years ago, this area was very undeveloped. Now, Lao Cai is very different, especially the scenery on both banks of the Red River is very clean and beautiful, with many rows of spacious, modern houses, and a large number of international tourists. What impressed me most is the significant change in Lao Cai, from the border gates to the Lao Cai train station area; the roads are clean and spacious; the people are very hospitable and civilized in welcoming tourists..."

These comments are clear evidence of the efforts of the Party Committee, the government, and the people of Lao Cai in building a civilized, modern, and friendly city, especially the thorough preparation of infrastructure and services to welcome a large number of tourists attending the Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025.

The Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025 has been identified as a key political, economic, cultural, and diplomatic event for the province's culture, sports, and tourism sector this year. With a sense of urgency and proactiveness, the preparations have been carried out systematically and meticulously by the sector.

Mr. Lai Vu Hiep, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province, affirmed: "We have identified this as a key event for the industry in 2025. Therefore, to prepare for the program, the department has been working urgently and actively. To date, preparations for the opening ceremony of the Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025 have been basically completed."

Based on our observations, all aspects, from the stage setup at Nam Cuong Square in Cam Duong Ward; the rehearsal of the special artistic program; to ensuring security, order, environmental hygiene, and facilities, have undergone a final thorough inspection.

The event promises to deliver an impressive opening night, fully conveying the diverse cultural identity of the ethnic groups of Lao Cai to friends both domestically and internationally.

The international cycling race "One Race - Two Countries" is one of the activities at the Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025.

Mr. Lai Vu Hiep added: "We expect the Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025 to contribute to conveying the unique culture of the ethnic groups in Lao Cai province to people inside and outside the province, especially tourists from all over. In addition, we also introduce the distinctive cultural features of the provinces in the Red River basin to the ethnic groups in Lao Cai, especially the younger generation."

The Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025 is not just a festival, but a vivid testament to the comprehensive development, integration, and strong cultural appeal of Lao Cai. Preparations are complete, and Lao Cai is ready to welcome friends to celebrate together in a cultural, economic, and friendly atmosphere along the historic Red River.

According to LC Newspaper

Source: https://sct.laocai.gov.vn/tin-trong-tinh/festival-song-hong-lao-cai-2025-san-ready-to-open-festival-1552409