Taking place from July 12th to 27th, the Xòe Ban May Festival offers visitors a journey to discover the authentic and vibrant cultural aspects of the ethnic communities in Sa Pa, such as Tay, Dao, Mong, Ha Nhi, Giay, Thai, and Xa Pho. These cultural features are fully expressed through traditional ceremonies, costumes, music, and especially the Xòe dances.

A Vibrant Cultural Space in the Northwest Highlands

Kicking off the visitor experience is the "Northwest Market" art program, part of the experiential show "Sacred Peak Journey" created specifically for the mountainous terrain of Fansipan.

The graceful dances, the resonant sounds of the khen (mouth organ), and the vibrant colors of the ethnic costumes… authentically recreate the atmosphere of a highland market, delighting many visitors.

In addition, the Water and Earth welcoming ceremony is a key highlight of the Xòe festival. The procession includes the palanquins of the Earth God and the Water God, two symbols of life and harvest, along with 12 men and 12 women representing the 12 directions and the 12 months of the year.

The Tay shaman performs the offering ceremony with incantations and melodies, connecting people with heaven and earth, praying for blessings for the residents of Ban May and participating tourists.

Deep in the festival atmosphere, visitors get to "touch" the local cultural life through a series of scenes recreating the customs, beliefs, and lifestyles of ethnic groups in the highlands, such as the Dao Do wedding ceremony, the Giay red egg dyeing ritual, Tay Then singing, Mong khen blowing and flax weaving, Ha Nhi stilt house building, or the Giay new house offering ceremony. Each ethnic community is present in a diverse and proud cultural picture.

The festival atmosphere becomes more lively when the Xoay dance circle opens in the village square. Hands clasped together, feet moving to the lively drumbeat. Regardless of whether they are locals or tourists, everyone joins in the vibrant Xoay dance.

The Xoay dance, originally a blend of many northern ethnic groups, has now become a symbol of unity, bonding, and love for local culture.

Simple experiences in the villages amidst the clouds

Besides ceremonies and art performances, the Ban May Xoay Festival is also an opportunity for visitors to meet traditional artisans such as incense makers, corn wine brewers, weavers, embroiderers, and folk musical instrument makers…

During this holiday, the people of Ban May village gathered to dye eggs to give to tourists, wishing them luck, happiness, and abundance. Anya, an American tourist, shared: “I am truly moved. The people here are very friendly. I got to see and become a part of a vibrant culture. This little egg is a very meaningful gift that I will surely bring home.”

Ban May village was also bustling with a series of folk games such as tug-of-war, throwing balls, stilt racing, rope swinging…, making both adults and children eager to participate.

The sticky rice cooking competition was also a highlight, attracting enthusiastic participation from domestic and international tourists. In the vast natural space, being able to prepare and grill the colorful sticky rice tubes yourself, and then enjoy the delicious, fragrant sticky rice while it’s still hot, is an unforgettable experience. In the misty atmosphere, tourists and ethnic people chatted enthusiastically, fully experiencing the simplicity and friendliness of the village.

Thu Hang, a tourist from Hanoi, smiled brightly after finishing the stilt race: “I never thought I would be brave enough to get on stilts. And today, I even dared to bet my husband that I would win the race. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to such a fun festival.”

Xoe Festival will last until July 27, with main activities taking place on weekends. This is just the opening event for a series of festivals featuring ethnic identity in Ban May village in the coming time. It is expected that in August, tourists will be able to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Golden Season Festival celebrating the rice harvest, the Don Thoc Flower Festival, and the Vu Lan (Ghost Festival) on top of Fansipan…

Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life and worries, escaping to the highlands, setting foot in a village halfway up a mountain, taking a deep breath of the fresh air, and immersing yourself in the joy of exploring the mountainous region – this is the soothing balm for the soul that everyone yearns for.