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Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong presents the certificate recognizing the Ba Duong Noi kite festival as a national intangible cultural heritage. Photo: Mai Nguyen

The traditional kite festival of Ba Duong Noi village in Dan Phuong District, Hanoi, has officially been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Simultaneously, the craft of making flute kites (dieu sao) has been honored as a Traditional Craft of Hanoi by the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Held annually from the 14th to the 16th of the third lunar month, the Ba Duong Noi kite festival is steeped in cultural symbolism, with rituals and customs aimed at praying for favorable weather and bountiful harvests.

The festival’s uniqueness lies in its rich ceremonial traditions, preserved exclusively in Ba Duong Noi village.

The village is also known for its long-standing tradition of crafting dieu sao - flute kites that emit haunting melodies as they soar.

This generational craft is practiced by people of all ages, from young children to elders. Ba Duong Noi's kite artisans have showcased their creations in international kite festivals across Thailand, China, India, and Malaysia, earning accolades such as the titles of People’s Artist and Distinguished Artisan.

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Vice Chairwoman of Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Thu Ha presents the certificate recognizing Ba Duong Noi kite-making as a Traditional Craft of Hanoi. Photo: Mai Nguyen

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Locals joyfully participate in the traditional kite-flying contest. Photo: The Dai

At the recognition ceremony on April 12, Dan Phuong District Chairman Nguyen Van Duc emphasized plans to enhance promotion of the village’s cultural assets.

These include restoring the sacred Dieu Shrine and preserving other local heritage sites as resources for sustainable tourism development. “We aim to transform Ba Duong Noi into one of the capital’s creative cultural spaces,” said Mr. Duc.

Following the ceremony, the village launched this year’s kite festival, which drew 72 kite entries. In keeping with tradition, each kite had to be at least 2.2 meters long and 0.6 meters wide, with a minimum of three flutes (each flute having a diameter of at least 2.5 cm), and no white glossy paper on the wings.

Kites were flown over the village fields, and those with the most melodious flutes, the highest flight, and the steadiest position were crowned winners.

Tinh Le