Nang Han festival of Thai ethnic people in Lai Chau province’s Phong Tho district is annually held on the fifteen of the second lunar month, drawing the participation of large numbers of locals and visitors.
The festival aims to honor female General Nang Han for her contributions in defeating aggressors from the North, and pray for bumper crops and a prosperous and peaceful life.
The festival included two parts of ritual worship and festive activities.
During the ritual worship, local shaman offers incense and a tray of pork, chicken, wine, flowers, fruit, betel and areca made by the villagers themselves dedicating to Nang Han.
During the event, Thai girls are bright in “com” dress to play “nem con”, kick a shuttle cock, and tug of war, and Thai energetic boys walk on stilts, kick a shuttle cock and catch fish.
Visitors also have the chance to enjoy the specialties bearing the Northwest mountain style made by Thai women.
Visitors experience Thai culture at the festival
Since 2008, the cultural sector of Lai Chau province has started to reinstate Nang Han festival, after 60 forgotten years, with the aim to preserve and promote cultural values of Thai ethnic groups in the province.
