Every year on the Dragon day of the first lunar month the Giay in Ta Van village, Sapa celebrates traditional Roóng Poọc festival to pray for bumper, good health and good weather. If you have a chance to visit Sapa at that time, do not miss the opportunity to take part in this unique festival together with ethnic people in the village.
Roóng poọc means going down the field in Giay languge, originally, it was a traditional festival of Giay people in Ta Van but has expanded for years and already become a common festival of Muong Hoa Valley. In the early morning as the fog is still thick, groups of people from Hau Thao, Lao Chai, Seo My Ty move downward, from Ban Ho, Ban Phung move upward and a lot of travellers from different locations excitedly go to the place where the festival takes place – usually is a large field located near the romantic Muong Hoa stream. As you reach the place, you will see a very high cloth-ball tree made from an apricot tree with a circle on top in the center of Roong Pooc festival’s venue and unique offering including cloth, eggs, silver and 6 Con (a colourful fabric ball) of unmarried girls. Visit Sapa with travel Indochina
In the openning part of the festival, a priest in blue outfits offers oblations to Heaven, Earth and Rice Goddess which, according to Giay people, to pray for secured life, abundant harvest, favorable weather and healthy people as well as animal. Right after the openning ritual finishes, traditional music is played announcing interesting folk games begin. Many travellers share that the funniest and most entertaining part of the whole festival is taking part in traditonal games together with the locals. Con throwing in which males and females stand within two lines throwing six colorful cloth-balls into the air is considered as one of the most exciting games, luring the entire crowd into the game. In addion, the tug of war game, blindfolded drums game and catching a goat while blindfolded are also great tourist attrations during the festival. Tours in Vietnam
Joining such traditional festival will be a great chance for travellers to have fun in Sapa and discover the unique culture of ethnic groups there.
The Indochina Voyages team.
