The city of Dien Bien Phu in the northern province of Dien Bien is
geared up for the third “ con ” (colourful fabric ball) throwing
festival slated for October 25-27, with locals from neighbouring Laos
and China.
As many as 1,500 participants, including about
85 from the guest Chinese district of Jiangcheng (Yunnan province) and
60 from the Lao district of Nhot U (Phongsaly province), will take part
in the festival, which is the first of its kind held in Dien Bien Phu.
Apart from “con” throwing” competitions, the festival will
also feature folk games, a cooking contest, a costumes beauty pageant, a
trade fair on Vietnamese consumer products, and cultural exchanges.
Earlier, the event took place in China’s Jiangcheng district.
Influenced by the Thai ethnic group’s culture, districts of Muong Nhe
and Muong Te in Dien Bien and Lai Chau together with its neighboring
localities of Laos’ Nhot U and China’s Jiangcheng take turns organising
the festival each year.
During festivals and New Year
holidays of the Thai ethnic group, “con” hurling is an indispensable
folk game. It is often held on a spacious and flat ground where a 15-20m
high bamboo pole is erected. Its top is tied with a five-coloured flag
and a bamboo-made ring wrapped in red paper that serves as the target.
According to Lo Van In, a Thai culture researcher in Dien
Bien, “con” symbolises Yang while the bamboo ring embodies Yin. The game
shows the harmony of Yin and Yang so that couples who wish to have
children excitingly compete in the game to pray for a child.-VNA