The Ban (Bauhinia) Flower Festival is slated to open on March 17 in the north-western province of Dien Bien.

Ban flowers in blossom in Dien Bien Province’s Dien Bien Dong District.

The annual cultural and tourism event aims to honour and promote the natural beauty, cultural heritage and ethnic groups of the province.

It will feature exhibitions on ethnic groups and tourism, traditional games, sports and fashion contests. 

The event will run until the end of May.

The ban flower is characteristic of the north-west and blossoms in March-April. — VNS