LÀO CAI — One thousand students from across Lào Cai Province are set to perform a large-scale sinh tiền stick dance in Bắc Hà later this month, in a display organisers say is expected to set a Guinness record and open the 2026 Bắc Hà Summer Festival.

The performance, scheduled as a highlight of the festival running from May 23 to 31, will showcase a popular Mông cultural practice widely performed throughout the region.

The sinh tiền dance holds an important place in the spiritual life of the Mông community, particularly during festive occasions. Beyond performance, it serves as a symbolic expression of cultural identity and helps promote the land and people of Bắc Hà to wider audiences in Việt Nam and abroad.

Building on this cultural foundation, the festival will again centre on the region’s traditional horse racing event, recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage and a long-standing tourism draw.

Themed Vang Xa Vó Ngựa Cao Nguyên (Hoofbeats Resounding Across the Highlands), the festival will officially open on the morning of May 23 at Bắc Hà Commune Central Stadium, coinciding with the qualifying round of the 19th horse racing tournament.

The celebrations will continue that afternoon with the Tam Hoa Plum Festival at the square of Hoàng A Tưởng Palace. Visitors can explore display booths, taste fresh plums, watch the beautiful plum competition and attend award ceremonies for the day’s activities.

As evening falls, the Bắc Hà Night Market cultural space will come alive at the Cultural Market Stage. A long-standing attraction for travellers, it features cultural showcases, local cuisine and regional products, creating a lively atmosphere that reflects the spirit of the highlands.

Throughout the festival, Bắc Hà will host a wide range of activities at the Cultural Market, Hoàng A Tưởng Palace and various venues, highlighting traditional brocade textiles of the Mông, Dao and Phù Lá communities. Visitors will also be able to observe demonstrations of traditional crafts such as embroidery, weaving and beeswax painting.

In addition to cultural events, summer tourism experiences will be expanded across several destinations. Travellers can ride horses on the Na Hối grasslands, explore hydrangea gardens in Ngài Ma Lùng Trù Hamlet or take part in the 'A Day as a Highland Farmer' experience at Sân Bay Hamlet and the Bắc Hà Fruit and Vegetable Research and Production Centre. Strawberry picking, harvesting Tam Hoa plums and learning about the cultivation of temperate fruits such as Tam Hoa plums and VH6 pears are expected to further enhance the region’s appeal during the peak summer season.

Together, these activities position the 2026 Summer Festival as a key opportunity for Bắc Hà to promote its landscapes, people and distinctive tourism offerings rooted in local culture.

Located about 70km from Lào Cai City, Bắc Hà is known for its traditional horse racing festival, colourful markets and rich Mông cultural heritage.

Key attractions include Hoàng A Tưởng Palace, built in 1914, Bắc Hà Sunday Market, widely regarded as one of the most distinctive in Southeast Asia and Phố Hamlet, known for the Mông community’s traditional corn liquor. Visitors can also take boat trips along the Chảy River to experience its striking natural scenery. — VNS