Viet Nam, Laos and China hold traditional games festival
DIEN BIEN (VNS)— Viet Nam, Laos and China will co-host the third con festival – in which participants attempt to throw a sacred ball through a high ring – in the mountainous province of Dien Bien between October 25-27.
The festival expects to attract around 1500 participants from the provinces of Dien Bien and Lai Chau (Viet Nam), Yunnan (China), and Phongsaly (Laos). The first two festivals were held in Yunnan province, where participants threw balls through triangle rings in accordance with Chinese and Laotian traditions. Participants at the third festival will attempt the sport in the Vietnamese style, throwing the ball through a ring.
According to Vietnamese tradition, players gather on a level field with a 30-40cm ring fixed to a tall bamboo tree. Balls stuffed with rice grains and cotton seeds are decorated with a multi-coloured tassel and thrown through the ring.
Participants will also compete in other sports and traditional games. — VNS