Go to Mu Cang Chai to see the Mong flute festival and admire the beautiful scenery.

In the joyful atmosphere of welcoming the new year 2026, the Hmong flute competition in the Northwest highlands is an unmissable event for tourists. This unique event is organized by Mu Cang Chai commune (Lao Cai province) in coordination with six other communes in the region right at the beginning of spring.

Báo An Giang•08/02/2026

The opening night of the event will take place at 7:30 PM on the first Saturday of 2026, at the central stadium of Mu Cang Chai commune. The highlight will be a welcoming art program themed "Flower Flute Festival," celebrating the country and homeland, honoring the Hmong people's flute art, the art of using beeswax to create patterns on fabric, wild peach blossoms, and the spring scenery of the highlands. Notably, the opening night will also feature a mass performance by 500 actors and a fireworks display.

Earlier, at 6:30 PM, there was a street parade featuring six performing arts groups, each with 30 members, including: the male Hmong flute group (Hmong Du); the group in traditional Ao Dai costumes; the Hmong Lenh male and female group (Hmong Hoa); the group of female Thai ethnic costumes performing fan dances; the Hmong Do male and female group (Hmong Trang); and the Hmong ethnic male and female group.

The procession includes flute music, flowers, and flags. The parade groups move from the Mu Cang Chai Post Office to the commune's stadium. Along the way, they perform once at the Kim Noi bridge before moving to the stadium and forming groups in various shapes within the grounds.

Amidst the misty mountain scenery and the vibrant colors of the wild jasmine flowers, the melodious sound of the Hmong flute is like a spring love song.

In particular, the following morning (Sunday, January 4th), visitors witnessed a rice cake pounding competition with 7 teams (one team from each commune, consisting of 3 men and 3 women) dressed in traditional Mong ethnic costumes. The competition covered all the processes from washing rice, cooking sticky rice, coloring the cakes, and presenting the products. At 2 PM, there was a Mong flute playing competition between the 7 teams from 7 participating communes. A notable highlight was the recreation of the Mong and Thai ethnic cultural spaces, such as: Mu Cang Chai commune showcasing the flute making process; Lao Chai commune showcasing embroidery and brocade weaving; Pung Luong commune showcasing the rice wine making process; Khao Mang commune showcasing the Mong ethnic group's linen weaving; Che Tao commune showcasing beeswax painting on fabric and other traditional handicrafts; and Tu Le commune showcasing the Thai ethnic group's indigo dyeing process.

The season when the flowers of the wild jasmine bloom, a vibrant red.

During this event, visitors can explore and shop at 15 stalls showcasing and selling OCOP products and characteristic agricultural products of the local ethnic groups. They can also visit an art photography exhibition themed "The Vibrant Colors of the Tớ Dày Flower." Furthermore, visitors can immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere of traditional folk games such as throwing the "con" (a type of ball), throwing the "pao" (a type of ball), blindfolded drum beating, blindfolded duck catching, stilt walking, sack racing, and enjoy free-form cultural performances by locals and tourists in the central areas of the commune. A special highlight is the "Cloud Hunting and Tớ Dày Flower Viewing Journey," which includes mountain climbing and exploring the natural landscape in Lùng Cúng village, Nậm Có commune; living near the dinosaurs at Púng Luông; and experiencing camping, cloud hunting, watching the sunrise and sunset, and admiring the waterfalls in the communes.