Dien Bien to host International Folk Song and Dance Festival 2026

DTO/NDO- The International Folk Song and Dance Festival 2026 will take place in Dien Bien Province from August 28 to September 2, bringing together artists and visitors from Viet Nam and abroad in a celebration of cultural diversity, peace and international exchange.

Announced at a press conference in Ha Noi on July 22, the festival will be held under the theme “Connecting cultures – Spreading peace – Advancing integration”.

The event will feature folk music and dance performances, traditional costume showcases, cultural and culinary fairs, exhibitions of regional products and interactive activities for visitors. Organisers also launched a competition to design the festival's official logo.

Tran Hai Ha, Director of the Dien Bien Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the festival aims to create an international cultural exchange platform while honouring the distinctive heritage of ethnic communities and strengthening friendship between Viet Nam and other countries.

The choice of Dien Bien as the inaugural host carries particular significance. Once the site of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory, the province has become a symbol of peace, friendship and development.
Highlights will include a hot-air balloon programme offering panoramic views of the north-western mountainous landscape. Organisers plan to launch a balloon in the shape of the Vietnamese national flag on National Day, September 2, as a tribute to patriotism and the country's enduring aspiration for peace.

Speaking at the event, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee Lo Van Cuong said the festival would help promote Viet Nam's image, boost tourism and expand international cooperation through music, dance, traditional costumes and cultural exchanges.

(Source: NDO)