Ha Giang (VNA) -📖 The Phong Luu Khau Vai Market Festival 2024 themed “Khau Vai Impressions” will take place from May 4 -5 in Khau Vai Commune, Meo Vac District in the northeast province of Ha Giang, promising to attract a great number of tourists to the locality.

The Khau Vai Love Market, known locally as the Phong Luu Khau Vai Market, takes place annually on the 26th-27th of the third lunar month. The market originates from a legend has it that a young man named Ba of the Nung ethnic group and a young woman named Ut of the Giay group were so in love but neither belonged to the same ethnic group nor had similar customs. In addition, Ba came from a poor family while Ut was the daughter of the head of the clan. Their love was forbidden as a result of the mismatch in familial background. They fled to Khau Vai mountain, aiming to settle there. However, their families began attacking each other in disagreement.

Knowing the situation, they could not help but break up and return to their respective families so as to fulfil their responsibilities. They promised to see each other each year in Khau Vai for just one day, which was the 27th day of the third lunar month, to ease their longing for each other. After that day, they would return to their daily lives. Near the end of their lives, the couple came to the place and passed away together in each other’s embrace. This date marks their fateful reunion, and also the last day of their lives. Afterwards, villagers set up shrines dedicated to the two to honour their love. They also chose the date to hold a meeting place for lovers who could not be together. The ‘market’ is to help former lovers who parted ways, to meet and talk to each other after years or separation. Local people believe that those unsuccessful love stories form part of each person’s past. Spouses respect their partners’ past and spiritual lives. As it honours pure love, Khau Vai market is now viewed as a festival and tourism product of sorts that can attract visitors to take in the lore. On the 27th day of the third lunar month each year, ethnic people wear their most beautiful clothes to Khau Vai market. A ritual is held to honour the ancestors who were village founders, as well as faithful love. The village elders typically host the event and ritual proceedings. Musical performances, folk games, and a beauty pageant will also be held, together with booths showcasing handicraft products and specialties of Ha Giang province so that visitors can buy them as souvenirs after their trips. Both men and women dress in their most beautiful outfits and head to the Khau Vai market.

The market serves as a place for locals to find lovers, give ex-lovers a chance to meet each other again, and offer traders the opportunity to exchange agricultural products. According to Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Meo Vac district Ngo Manh Cuong, this year’s Phong Luu Khau Vai Market Festival will feature a wide range of art performance programmes, cultural exchange activities and traditional games, and the exhibition of agricultural products and specialties. With its unique and outstanding cultural value, the Social Practices and Beliefs of Khau Vai Love Market was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2021. The annual organisation of the festival contributes to preserving the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minority groups in Ha Giang province, and attracting visitors to the locality, which also boasts the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark./.