The theme of the first regional festival in the province is “Culture – Motherland’s Silt – Convergence and Enlightenment.”

Among the numerous activities were photography exhibition featuring images of the countryside and people, an agricultural competition for farmers, a sports tournament and folk games.

A seminar on developing tourism in the Delta region was held along with a meeting to review the 20-year construction of cultural villages in Northern Vietnam.

More than 300 local farmers and 2,000 residents of ten northern provinces and cities - Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Haiphong, Thai Binh and Vinh Phuc - took part in the event, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

There were also exhibits from 96 villages in 33 Northern provinces.

The highlight of the festival is the closing ceremony, which features musical performances such as cheo (traditional opera), contests and folk games.

Visitors were invited to take part in a carnival on the afternoon of October 15 along some off the main streets in Thai Binh. There were dragon dancing, stilt walking and floats.

Cao Thi Hai, Vice Charwoman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the festival would promote the tourism potential of the region and foster greater inter-provincial co-opeation.

Nguyen Khac Phuc, a writer, said the event would also be used to promote the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi next year. “It can be said that Red River culture is the foundation of Thang Long – Hanoi’s culture,” he said.

Phuc, who planned the provincial festival, said Thang Long was built on the silt of the Red River and that many of the customs of Hanoians bore similarities to those of the people in the delta provinces.

The Red River Delta region is famed for its number handicraft villages. It is also home to the country’s largest granary, and plays a key role in the nation’s socio-economic development.

The festival will be held every two years and the next will take place in Ha Nam Province.