Ban Flower Festival 2018 kicked off

The 2018 Ban Flower Festival kicked off in the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên on March 17th, attracting thousands of people in the province and surrounding localities.

This year’s festival, the second of its kind held in the province, started with an artistic performance of more than 200 local artists, telling visitors about the Thai ethnic group’s legend on the Ban flower and presenting the unique cultural identities of the 19 ethnic groups living in Dien Bien.

Chairman of the Communist Party Central Committee's Economic Commission, Nguyễn Văn Bình joined the opening ceremony.

The festival aims to honour and preserve traditional cultural values of ethnic groups and strengthen national unity, as well as promote local landscapes and people to visitors from around the world. The annual Ban Flower Festival also helps affirm the tourism trademark of Điện Biên and promote ban flowers (scientifically known as Bauhinia Variegata). The flower often blossoms during March to April.