Na Hau Forest Tet

Na Hau Forest Festival (Tan Hop, Lao Cai) 2026: Unique cultural festival attracts tourists Taking place on March 18-19, 2026 in Na Hau village (Tan Hop commune), Na Hau Forest Tet brings many unique cultural, sports and tourism activities. The festival not only honors the identity of the Mong people but also promotes the potential of local eco-tourism and community tourism. From March 18–19, 2026, in Na Hau village, Tan Hop commune, Lao Cai province, the Na Hau Forest Tet will take place with many attractive cultural, sports and tourist activities. This is one of the typical traditional festivals of the Mong people, associated with the belief of respecting nature, protecting forests and praying for favorable weather and good crops. This year, the festival is held with many rich activities, harmoniously combining traditional rituals and cultural and tourist experience activities, promising to bring many interesting experiences to people and tourists. The opening program of Na Hau Forest Tet is scheduled to take place at 8:00 p.m. on March 18 at Na Hau village stadium. The opening night was elaborately choreographed with musical performances imbued with Mong ethnic identity, combined with a modern sound and lighting system. The highlight of the program is the campfire and solidarity circle, where locals and tourists hold hands and immerse themselves in the vibrant festival atmosphere in the mountains and forests. The traditional ceremony will be held on the morning of March 19 at three places to worship the forest god of the villages of Na Hau, Ban Tat and Ba Khuy. The ritual is performed by shamans with the participation of local people, delegates and tourists. This is an important ritual that shows people's gratitude to the forest, while also conveying their desire for a peaceful, prosperous life and sustainably preserved nature. After the ceremony, delegates and tourists will join the people in "Eating Forest Tet", enjoying traditional dishes right at the worshiping spots. This activity not only creates an atmosphere of community connection but also helps visitors clearly feel the unique indigenous culture of the Mong people. Many exciting experiential activities Besides the ceremony, the 2026 Na Hau Forest Tet also has many unique experiential activities. The highlight is the trail running race "Footsteps in the midst of thousands" with a distance of 17 km, starting from the headquarters of the People's Committee of Tan Hop commune to Na Hau village stadium. The road runs through majestic natural landscapes, providing an exciting experience for those who love sports and exploring nature. The Festival space "Cuisine in the middle of the world" is also the highlight of the festival. Visitors can enjoy and learn how to prepare many typical dishes of the highlands such as men men, thang co, grilled stream fish, five-color sticky rice, meat hung on the stove, corn wine, rice wine... Teams from villages also participate in cooking competitions and tell cultural stories associated with the forest, creating a vibrant and rich atmosphere. Within the framework of the festival, a rural market space and traditional Hmong cultural experience are also held with about 25 booths. Here, visitors can visit and shop for local agricultural products such as green tea, cinnamon, upland sticky rice, cardamom, wild vegetables... Visitors also have the opportunity to experience traditional crafts such as weaving, embroidering patterns, forging agricultural tools, making flutes and flutes - typical cultural features of highland people. In addition, many other exciting experiential activities are also organized such as the program "A day as a Na Hau person", taking visitors to the forest to pick vegetables, catch stream fish, and cook by the fire; folk games such as stick pushing, tug of war, spinning, crossbow shooting, pound throwing; along with traditional musical performances such as flute dancing, lip trumpet, leaf trumpet and love singing.