The performances bring together 176 artisans and community members from Sa Pa’s ethnic groups, alongside 22 professional artists from the Lao Cai Ethnic Art Troupe.
    |
 |
|
Ethnic minority communities in Lao Cai tell stories of their cultural heritage through artistic performances to attract tourists. |
Scheduled to be performed on weekend evenings from November 7 at San Quan, Sa Pa Ward, the shows highlight the cultural essence of local ethnic communities. Music, dance, theatrical scenes, songs, and traditional instruments, such as the panpipe and lute are harmoniously presented to visitors.
Deputy Director of the Lao Cao Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Son Binh emphasized that the programs aim to preserve, transmit, and promote the cultural quintessence of local ethnic groups. Modern technology, including lighting, stage design, and 3D mapping, is integrated without losing respect for cultural authenticity. Importantly, the shows allow local people to participate directly, telling their own community stories through artistic language.
The program’s director Dang Xuan Truong explained that “Sacred” is a large-scale production combining singing, dancing, music, and visual performance, inspired by the Dao community’s cultural heritage. The work illustrates the connection between earth, water, fire, love, and faith, while honoring sacred traditional rituals, especially the “Cap sac” ceremony, which symbolizes maturity and moral values of the Dao people.
“Through “Sacred,” we hope the audience sees more than a performance. It is also a journey of preservation, rekindling pride and cultural confidence within the Dao community, while promoting Vietnamese ethnic culture internationally,” Truong said.
Meanwhile, “Dance under the Moon” reflects the vitality of Sa Pa’s ethnic communities through dance and music. Their customs, festivals, labor, and folk knowledge form an internal strength that binds the community. The sounds of leaf trumpets, mouth harps, and bells intertwine with panpipes and flutes, while vibrant brocade colors blend with the spirit of mountains and forests. Performances are delivered by Dao Do, H’mong, Xa Pho, Tay, and Giay communities.
Scriptwriter Ha Van Thang, who grew up in the region, said his childhood experiences of village life inspired him to write works that allow ethnic people become main storytellers. “If preserved with heart, responsibility, and community support, these cultural values will endure. “Sacred” was born from that belief,” he said.
|
|
 |
|
The organizing panel introduces the art programs at the press conference in Hanoi. |
According to director Truong, the two shows are also an expression of gratitude: “We have received so much from ethnic minorities; this is our way of giving back. Art is the bridge that restores trust among people.”
Translated by Chung Anh