Cao Lan Ethnic Group’s Field-opening Festival in Yen Lang Officially Recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage

On the morning of February 28 (the 12th day of the first lunar month, Year of the Horse), Ms. Phung Thi Kim Nga — Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee — attended and presented the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate for the Field-opening Festival of the Cao Lan people in Yen Lang Commune to the local Party Committee, authorities, and residents. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of provincial departments, sectors, local authorities, and a large number of locals and tourists.

Vice Chairwoman Phung Thi Kim Nga presents the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Certificate and congratulatory flowers to the leaders and people of Yen Lang Commune.

During the ceremony, the Organizing Committee announced the Decision of the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to include the Field-opening Festival of the Cao Lan people in Yen Lang Commune in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The certificate was formally handed over to the representatives of the local government and community.

Vice Chairwoman Phung Thi Kim Nga visits exhibition areas showcasing the local cultural beauty, products, and signature dishes.

The Field-opening Festival of the Cao Lan people is not only an agricultural religious ritual deeply imbued with traditional identity but also a vivid symbol of community solidarity. It reflects faith in nature, aspirations for bountiful harvests, and a prosperous, happy life. Through generations of preservation and transmission, the festival has become an indispensable part of the people’s spiritual life, contributing to the richness of Vietnam’s national cultural heritage.

Being inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is a well-deserved recognition of the unique cultural values that have been persistently preserved and promoted over time. This is not only a source of honor and pride for Yen Lang Commune but also a significant motivation for the locality to continue safeguarding its traditional identity while linking it with socio-economic development and sustainable tourism in the new era.

As per tradition, the festival was organized solemnly with rituals such as the procession to the village communal house, offerings to pray for a good harvest, traditional dances, and the field-opening ceremony. The Festive Section was vibrant with various cultural and sporting activities and folk games, including goat fighting, shuttlecock throwing, and pot breaking. Additionally, there were exhibition booths displaying local products and spaces reenacting the distinctive cultural features of the Cao Lan ethnic group.

Thuy Huong