The Pac Bo festival 2019, the first of its kind, kicked off in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang on March 6, attracting crowds of locals and visitors. 

An art performance at the opening ceremony

The festival is designed to raise public awareness about the country’s revolutionary cause and history, as well as honour traditional cultural values and promote local tourism.

It includes an array of activities, including a water procession and offering rituals at a temple dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, folk art performances, a cake making contest and traditional sport competitions, among others.

The event is hoped to help local people restore and conserve traditional cultural values, promote images of the UNESCO-recognised Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, thereby fostering the province’s tourism. 

The Pac Bo historical relic is closely connected to revolutionary activities of President Ho Chi Minh, particularly when he returned home from abroad through Truong Ha commune of Ha Quang district in early 1941.

In 2018, the site welcomed nearly 200 tourists and the number is expected to rise sharply in the time ahead.-VNA