VietNamNet Bridge - The Khau Vai love market, held only once a year, is a place where tourists can explore the beauty of cultural identities of ethnic people in Meo Vac district of Ha Giang, a mountainous province in North Vietnam.

The 100-year-old festival, which is held in the third lunar month, is a popular meeting place for ethnic groups in the locality, particularly those in love.

Legend has it that a couple who loved each other but could not live together made the promise to meet once every year in Khau Vai on the 27th of the third lunar month. The festival was then held every year on this day for ex-lovers to meet.

The event has now become a tourist attraction, drawing a huge number of domestic and foreign visitors.

The 2015 Khau Vai Love Market Culture-Tourism Week took place on May 13-16 (or 25th-28th of the third lunar month).

The event opened with the final round of a beauty pageant for northernmost mountainous areas. It attracted the participation of young girls from all districts in Ha Giang.

In the four-day event, visitors had a chance to join the market day’s activities, including a horse race, a cow fighting festival and incense offering at two temples in Khau Vai commune.

Some photos of the festival this year:

Girls sing while boys play khen.   The activities at the market reflect cultural characteristics of ethnic communities in Meo Vac.         The banh day (rice cake)-making contest of Nung ethnic group.       The leaf-hat making competition of the Giay ethnic group.       H’Mong girls compete in the linen weaving contest.          The cow fighting festival.         Besides participating in festival activities, many people spend beautiful moments at the wheat bucket field.