Khau Vai Love Market 2019 will be held from April 28 to May 1 (Photo: VNA)Ha Giang (VNA) – The 100th festival of KhauVai Love Market – a unique cultural practice of locals in Khau Vai commune, MeoVac district of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, will be heldfrom April 28 to May 1.
Within the festival’s framework, Ha Giang will hold aceremony to announce UNESCO’s recognition of Dong Van Karst Plateau as a global geopark for the second time.
The opening of the festival will be organise on April 29 night,during which visitors will have opportunities to enjoy various festiveactivities such as love singing and rowing on Nho Que river, along with local dishes.
An international marathon will also be held.
The Khau Vai Love Market is apopular attraction in Ha Giang, even though it is held only once a year.
On the 27th day of the third lunar month, localethnic women and men put on their best traditional costumes and go to themarket where they are free to meet their former lovers in public.
Husbands and wives arrive at the market togetherand start looking for their past partners among the crowd. Spouses do not getangry or jealous because the meeting at the market is supposed to be atemporary moment and does not affect their daily lives or relationship.
According to folklore, a man and a woman weredeeply in love but were forbidden to be together because they were fromdifferent ethnic groups. A violent conflict later took place between the twotribes, resulting in bloodshed for both. To stop the fierce fight, the coupledecided to part ways with broken hearts. They, however, promised to meet onceevery year in the market in Khau Vai commune on the 27th of the third lunarmonth.
Ha Giang has been anattractive destination among visitors for its stunning landscapes and diversecultural values.
Among popular tourismdestinations are Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, Lung Cu Flag Pole, MaPi Leng Peak and Dong Van Town Old Quarter.-VNA
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