The Then Kin Pang 2026 Festival is held in Kong Lao commune, Lai Chau province with the theme "Then words echo forever". Over two decades, the Then Kin Pang festival has increasingly affirmed its cultural value, spiritual depth and spreading power in the community. In 2026, the festival is organized on a provincial scale, attracting more than 300 actors, artisans, and athletes from communes and wards inside and outside the province, along with the Kim Binh district delegation (Yunnan province, China).
The ceremony part takes place solemnly with traditional rituals at Then house such as the Then opening ceremony, incense offering for blessings, showing the long-standing religious life of the people. The festival part is bustling with many cultural, artistic, sports and folk games such as stick pushing, crossbow shooting, con throwing, circling stones, bamboo rafting, spring swimming, according to VNA.
People and tourists also experience unique activities such as the "Ap Ho Pang" performance (headwashing ritual), recreating river life, pouring water for good luck; visiting the space displaying Thai ethnic culture, OCOP products and typical agricultural products of Khong Lao commune.
Standing Vice Chairman of Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee Tong Thanh Hai - Head of the festival organizing committee - said that in recent years, the material and spiritual life of ethnic people in the province has had many positive changes. In particular, the implementation of Resolution No. 08-NQ/TU on tourism development in the period 2026 - 2030 is creating new momentum, turning cultural potential into an endogenous resource for sustainable socio-economic development.
In the cultural flow of 20 brotherly ethnic groups, the Thai ethnic group holds an important position with a rich heritage treasure. Then Kin Pang Festival is considered a typical spiritual cultural feature. Since its restoration in 2000, the festival has been constantly maintained and developed, becoming a bridge between the past and the present, affirming the sustainable vitality of the heritage.
The organizers expect each citizen - in their role as cultural subjects - to continue to preserve and pass on good values to future generations. This is also an opportunity to honor two representative intangible cultural heritages of humanity recognized by UNESCO, which are Thai Xoe art and Then practice.
According to the Thai ethnic legend, Then is the representative who prays to the gods, bringing favorable weather, bumper crops, and a prosperous life. To commemorate that merit, the Thai people organize the Then celebration festival at the beginning of spring every year. After many ups and downs, since 2000, the Then Kin Pang festival has been restored and maintained regularly.
