In the bustling atmosphere of the first days of the Spring At Ty, on February 15, Tram Tau district organized the Tau Cup Festival in 2025.
From early morning, when fog was still covering all the villages of Tram Tau district, the atmosphere of the Tau Cup festival was bustling with red flags with yellow stars, flags with flowers flying in a misty manner, joined by the bustling crowd on the streets flowing to Tram Tau town stadium to enjoy the festival.
The festival is not only a meeting place and exchange of the H'Mong people but also spreads to the Thai, Tay, and Kho Mu ethnic groups in the districts and towns of Bac Yen and Muong La (Son La), creating a unique picture, converging the identity of the Northwest.
Gau Tao in the Chinese language means playing outdoors or playing in the hills. Depending on the H'Mong ethnic region, the festival is held on different days, usually from the 5th to the 15th of January to pray for thanks to the gods, asking God for children, health, luck to do business and pray for favorable weather, good crops.
According to the folk legend of the H'Mong people, in the past, couples who had not had children together for many years but wanted to have children as desired would go to a hill and pray to the hills and mountains to bless their families and give them children as desired and promised to thank them.
When they have children as desired, the family will hold a ceremony to thank the mountain and hill gods as promised and slaughter buffaloes to make a wish for the villagers right on the flat land of the hill and mountain that the family has prayed for. After everyone eats together, they will play games, sing folk songs, dance Khen, dance O, and dance sticks happily to celebrate the homeowner. The origin of the Tao entrance festival also began from there.
Previously, on the evening of February 14, at the Central Stadium of Tram Tau District, Yen Bai Province, a ceremony was held to announce the Decision and award the Certificate of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Gau Tao Festival of the H'Mong people in Tram Tau District, Mu Cang Chai District and Van Chan District.
This is the 8th Intangible Cultural Heritage out of 11 Intangible Cultural Heritage Sites in Yen Bai that have been honored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to be included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Mr. Ho Thanh Dat, a tourist from Quang Ninh, said that this was the first time he had come to Yen Bai. Witnessing the rituals of the Ga Tao festival with his own eyes, Mr. Dat felt very interesting. He also experienced indigenous games such as throwing the ball, fighting the goosebumps...
