Ha Giang is not only captivating with its majestic and untouched nature but also popular for its unique festivals, which reflect life of the ethnic groups here. Join Maverick Journeys in exploring the lively atmosphere of Ha Giang’s Festival!
Buckwheat Flower Festival
Time: Buckwheat Flower Festival is held from October to November when the flowers in full blossom
The annual Buckwheat Flower Festival in Ha Giang, is a tribute to the region’s distinctive flower and the rich cultural heritage of the H’mmong ethnic group. The charming buckwheat flower, with its delicate pinkish-purble hoe, blooms abundantly from November, marking the peak of festival celebrations.
Main activitíes:
- Contests: The festival hosts diverse competitions like marathon tournaments, children’s painting competition, music nights, and art exhibition
- Engaging Activities: Immerse yourself in cultural and artistic activities, indulge in traditional Northwest Vietnam cuisine, and admire exquisite artworks capturing the essence of the region.
Fire Jumping Festival
Time: between the 15th of the 12th Lunar Moon and the 15th of the 1st Lunar Moon (November – December)
The Fire Jumping festival, also known as the Fire Worship Festival, is celebrated by the Pà Thẻn ethnic group. This festival marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the harsh winter.
For the Pà Thẻn, fire symbolizes the highest deity, representing peace and luck. The festival aims to pray for a bountiful harvest, good health, and to ward off bad luck.
The festival includes offerings such as a rooster, a bowl of rice, wine, paper money, and incense. After a ritual to invoke the spirits lasting 5-8 hours, the fire jumping ceremony begins around 8PM.
Young men, after being possessed by the spirits, jump over blazing fires for 3-4 minutes without getting burned, showcasing their spiritual connection
Moon Worship Festival
Time: 14th – 15th of the 8th Lunar month (middle of September – Mid-Autumn festival)
The Moon Worship Festival reflects the cultural beauty of the Tày ethnic group. For the Tày people in Bàn Loan village, Yên Định commune, Bắc Mê district, the Moon blesses the earth with prosperity. The festival welcomes the Moon and celestial maidens to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, praying for peace, luck, and a good haverst.
- Main activities:
The festival has 2 sections: Ceremony and Festival
- Ceremony: on the day 14th, the village elder will pray the Land Genie to ask for permission to celebrate the festival, a group of people will dance around the altar until the pray is over
- Festival: Experience traditional cuisine of the Tày and traditional games and folk songs
Gau Tao Festival.
- Time: The Gau Tao festival is held from the 1st to the 15th day of the First lunar month (Early February)
This is the most important festival of the H’Mong people. The festival serves two main purposes: to pray for children and for health
- Praying for children: For families without children or with only one gender, relatives who have botth sons and daughters will help the family set up the New Year tree (Cây nêu)
- Praying for health: For families with sick members or those who have lost children, two young man from the family to set up the New Year tree
- Main activities: The festival features many activities and games like spinning tops, archery, horse racing and traditional H’Mong dance
Cap Sac Festival
- Time: November/December/January annually (occurs when the rice season is over)
The festival holds profound educational value, guiding individuals toward noble aspirations and discouraging wrongdoing. The Red Dao, Dao Tien, and Dao Ao Dai ethnic groups have different day and way to celebrate the festival
As the festival approaches, the host family brings offerings to invite the officiatting priests, while the participants must refrain from certain activities like singing, sleeping together, or arguing.
During the ritual, six priests conduct farrious ceremonies, with offering typically including pigs, rice, and liquor.
- Main activity: Praying, experience cuisine