The Ban Flower Festival 2017 began on March 12^th at Square 7/5 in Dien Bien city, the northern province of Dien Bien.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, representatives of departments and agencies, representatives of Lao localities and thousands of ethnic minority people in Dien Bien province attended the event.

A performance at the festival's opening ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mua A Son said the annual event aims to honour, preserve and promote cultural heritage of Vietnam and the 19 ethnic groups in Dien Bien province.

This year’s festival started with an art performance featuring more than 250 artists, telling the origin of the Ban Flower and introducing the locality to visitors.

Various activities, including cultural exhibitions from ethnic groups, photos and book displays as well as sports and folk music will take place at the festival, which runs through March 14^th.

The finale of the Miss Ban Flower Contest, one of the highlights of the festival, will be held on March 14^th.

The fifth provincial Culture – Sports – Tourism Festival opened the same day as the Ban Flower festival.

The white and purple Ban flower is typical to the northern mountainous region of Vietnam and blossoms in spring./.

VNF/VNA