A festival of community-based tourism villages of the North-western provinces is scheduled to be held in Mai Chau district, in the mountainous northern province of Hoa Binh, from September 29 to October 1.

As many as 14 community-based tourism villages from Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Son La, and Hoa Binh are expected to join in with the festival.

It will include a series of activities presented by ethnic groups from the Northern provinces, who will offer their traditional food and drinks such as thang co (soup with horse meat), men men (steamed minced corn), corn wine and baked buffalo meat.

The event will feature artisans producing local handicrafts, including weaving, making bamboo instruments, making sticky rice and dyeing cloth using beeswax, along with artists performing folk songs, dances and games.

The festival is expected to provide tourists with the chance to learn about and experience the culture, working environment and lifestyle of the local communities.

Nhan Dan