Bustling, crowded, exciting, attractive and unique costumes, many stalls selling rich local cuisine… That is what we felt when attending the opening night of Muong Gion night market, Son La province associated with the restoration, preservation and development of some traditional ethnic festivals, held last Friday night.

Right from the afternoon of the event, many people and tourists from all over the country came to visit and experience the market.

Unique Green Muong Gion Run - Environmental Protection.

Being organized for the first time, the market impressed visitors with a series of activities: Green Muong Gion Run - Environmental Protection; football competition and experiencing fun folk games. Immerse yourself in the scene of people from the villages preparing products for sale, competing in culinary competitions at the market stalls.

19:30, the opening ceremony of the night market associated with the restoration, preservation and development of a number of traditional ethnic festivals took place in a joyful atmosphere, imbued with the national cultural identity. The highlight of the opening ceremony was the reenactment of the "Han Khuong" festival, an intangible cultural product of the Black Thai people.

The opening ceremony of the night market associated with the restoration, preservation and development of a number of traditional ethnic festivals.

Han Khuong is a traditional cultural activity of the Thai ethnic group, usually held after the harvest in November every year. Thai young men and women go into the forest to cut down some trees and build a platform in the open space in the middle of the village. The platform can be made of bamboo or wood. That platform is called Han Khuong - a place for Thai young men and women to come and sing and respond.

On the Han Khuong platform, tools are prepared for young men and women to gather and date; Thai girls spin, roll cotton, weave, embroider with various colored threads, and there is a wood stove to light the fire.

When the fire is lit, the fire burns brightly in a corner of the village, which is also the time when the Han Khuong owners pull up the ladder, turn their spinning wheels to pull the thread across the way up and down the Han Khuong platform and the competition begins.

At this time, Thai boys who want to go to the flower platform must win the singing competition with the Han Khuong owners. The lyrics of the antithetical songs are often taken from the Thai poems “Xong chu xon xao”, “Tan chu tiet xuong”…

Just like that, the fun attracts Thai girls to show off their dexterity by weaving, spinning, and rolling cotton tirelessly; the boys compete in weaving baskets, weaving hom, playing the flute, and playing the Tinh lute with melodies that captivate people’s hearts and feelings.

Re-enacting the Han Khuong festival, an intangible cultural heritage of the Black Thai people.

Young men and women participate in the Han Khuong festival of the Black Thai ethnic group.

The market attracted a large number of people to watch, cheer and experience.

Also at the night market, the singing, dancing and music performances by local actors brought the people and tourists a joyful and bustling atmosphere of the night market...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy from Lai Chau province shared: This is the first time I have come to Muong Gion, and coincidentally attended the opening of the new rural night market of the commune. When I came here, I felt the joyful and warm atmosphere and through this atmosphere, I saw the people very excited, connected and loving when meeting, exchanging as well as showing the love of Muong Gion commune

The space of the Muong Gion night market is organized in the market yard area, including an area to introduce agricultural products; a traditional culinary area, an entertainment area, an area to introduce brocade products.

Culinary competition booth of Mac Liu village, Muong Gion commune.

Delegates and judges score and visit the culinary booths of the villages.

Here, in addition to enjoying the performances and participating in folk games, people and tourists can also experience the interesting cuisine of the ethnic groups in the commune.

Mr. Hoang Van Hoc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Gion Commune, said: For the first time, Muong Gion Commune organized the opening of a night market and the people came very enthusiastically. I see that the effectiveness of the market's activities in the coming time will be very good.

According to the plan, the market will be maintained periodically twice a month, on Friday evenings of the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month. Through the market, it will create conditions for people and businesses inside and outside the province to participate, exchange, and trade goods, creating income for the people, contributing to creating momentum for economic development, building new rural areas, and advanced new rural areas in the locality.

Through the market, it also contributes to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the ethnic groups in the area and building and developing the culture of Muong Gion commune. At the same time, it creates an attractive destination for people and tourists every time they come to Son La.