As part of the four-day event, an athletic competition began on March 29, drawing 250 athletes to play in seven games, including cloth ball throwing, crossbow shooting and stick pushing.

Colourful rituals of several ethnic minority groups are relived, including the coal bathing festival by the Dao Do from Lao Cai Province, and the Buddha greeting procession at Khu Dung Cave in Hoa Binh Province.

Also held at the festival was a seminar promoting tourism in the northwestern mountainous region, aimed at developing the hospitality industry which is considered a key factor in regional socio-economic development.

Participants agreed that the region should focus on community-based and eco-tourism.

On the opening day on March 28, a fair and festival on Lai Chau culture, tourism and trade opened, drawing over 100 enterprises, including some from Thailand and China.

The festival has been held biennially since 1992, featuring the colourful cultures of over 30 ethnic minority groups in the region.