Lion Dance

The lion-cat dance is a traditional custom of the Tay and Nung people in the districts of Cao Loc, Loc Binh, Van Lang, Van Quan, Binh Gia, and Trang Dinh in Lang Son province . This activity is usually performed on the 1st and 2nd days of the Lunar New Year and on special occasions such as the rice planting festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, groundbreaking ceremonies, and housewarming parties. The lion-cat dance carries many meanings, as it not only demonstrates the martial spirit of the mountain people but also symbolizes good fortune and happiness in life.

Lion dance is an activity that expresses people's aspirations for a better life. Join Vietnam.vn in experiencing a lion dance festival through the photo series "Lion Dance of Cats" by author Nguyen Thi Bich Huong. This photo series was submitted by the author to the "Happy Vietnam" Photo and Video Contest, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications .

The lion dance is a comprehensive performance art form, where dance is the main element, but it is inseparable from music and acting. Besides showcasing the martial spirit of the mountain people through powerful and vigorous movements, the lion dance also expresses people's aspirations for a better life. The people here believe that lions symbolize prosperity and success; wherever lions go, they bring happiness, abundance, and joy. Therefore, in Lang Son, at the beginning of the new year, the Tay and Nung people often invite lion dance troupes to their homes to perform, believing that the appearance of lions will ward off evil spirits, eradicate all epidemics, and represent peace and belief in a prosperous new year. Along with the dance, the performance includes various forms of martial arts, swordsmanship, and the use of indispensable weapons and props such as: the leopard mask, the monkey mask, gongs, cymbals, three-pronged fork, staffs, short swords, and sharp knives... in the lion-cat dance. The lion-cat dancer controls a head that closely resembles a lion's head but has the face of a cat. The lion head is made from readily available materials, combined with many vibrant colors such as red, black, yellow, or dark blue... Because the Tay and Nung people believe that the lion-cat dance wards off evil and brings good luck, the fiercer the lion-cat's face, the better, and the more powerful the dance moves, the more impressive. In the lion dance, the fast and graceful martial arts movements, combined with the lively sounds of drums and gongs, create an exciting and spirited atmosphere for the audience. Following the rhythm of the drums, gongs, and cymbals, the dancers must move the lion up, down, and around in perfect time. Through these martial arts movements and rhythmic up-and-down motions, one can discern the religious elements that the lion conveys to both humans and deities. A single performance lasts only 7 minutes, but it demands exceptional skill from the performers. The local people believe that wherever the lion goes, it brings happiness, abundance, and joy. The lion dance, performed with various martial arts movements such as boxing, swordsmanship, and weapons, is an indispensable part of the performance, showcasing the strength and agility of the people. This strength is always there to protect the villagers from all dangers. Currently, in Lang Son province, there are nearly 100 lion dance troupes, with almost 1000 performers and dozens of artisans who make lion heads. Each lion dance troupe consists of 8-16 people, including lion dancers, orangutans, monkey-faced dancers, and a group performing traditional martial arts. Depending on the space, location, purpose, and requirements, the lion dance has many suitable routines such as: dances to greet deities, ancestor worship, prayers for good fortune, dances at the Lồng Tồng festival, and somersaults through fire hoops… With its rich traditional cultural values, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized the Lion Dance of the Tay and Nung people in Lang Son as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2017. This aims to transform this art form into a unique and attractive cultural tourism product of Lang Son, enriching the travel experiences and explorations of tourists from within and outside the province.

In 2024, the "Happy Vietnam" photo and video contest continued to be organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists on the website.   https://happy.vietnam.vn is open to all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners aged 15 and above. The competition aims to honor individuals and groups with positive informational products that make practical contributions to promoting a beautiful image of Vietnam to the world. Through this, it helps people at home, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends access authentic images of Vietnam, its people, its achievements in ensuring human rights, and working towards a happy Vietnam.

Each competition category (photos and videos) has the following prizes and prize values: – 1 Gold Medal: 70,000,000 VND – 2 Silver Medals: 20,000,000 VND – 3 Bronze Medals: 10,000,000 VND – 10 Consolation Prizes: 5,000,000 VND – 1 Most Voted entry: 5,000,000 VND. Winning authors will be invited by the Organizing Committee to attend the Award Ceremony and Certificate Presentation, broadcast live on Vietnam Television.

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