Bac Ha traditional horse race recognised as national intangible heritage
A horse racing event in Bac Ha district in northern mountainous Lao Cai province is among 10
LÀO CAI Traditional horse racing in Bắc Ha District in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai is among 10 newly recognised as 'national intangible heritage' by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Nine others in the list of 'cultural heritage' include a festival of the Ba Na ethnic minority in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum; a festival held in Đại Đồng Commune in Vĩnh Tường District, northern Vĩnh Phuc Province; and lace knitting in Thanh Ha Commune, Thanh Liem District in Ha Nam Province.
The horse racing event is held every spring at the foot of Ba Mẹ Con Mount in the centre of Bắc Ha Town.
It resumed in 2007 after stopping for a long period since 1980, with the aim of conserving and developing traditional cultural values and promoting the region’s image among visitors at home and abroad.
Bắc Ha horses are considered the most beautiful breed in Viet Nam.
Lao Cai had two other heritages listed among the 10, including the decorative arts on costumes of the Nung Dín and Mong Hoa ethnic minority groups in Mường Khương and Bắc Ha districts, respectively. Both of them belong to the folk culture category.
The capital city of Ha Noi contributed two events to the list, the traditional festivals in Bắc Từ Liem and Nam Từ Liem districts.
Fish sauce production in the island city of Phu Quốc, Kien Giang Province, and a whale worshipping festival in Cẩm Xuyen District, the central province of Ha Tính also received the recognition. — VNS
