Artists perform at the opening ceremony in the National Great Solidarity - Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Week at the Culture-Tourism Village of Dong Mo in Ha Noi last night. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Ha

HA NOI  (VNS) — Hundreds of representatives from 54 ethnic groups throughout the country took part in the opening ceremony of the National Great Solidarity - Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Week at the Culture-Tourism Village of Dong Mo in Ha Noi town last night.

The week aims to strengthen unity between all 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups, which needed to be respected, maintained and developed, according to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan.

It is also a channel to introduce and popularise Viet Nam and the village - which is considered a "common house" to all 54 ethnic groups - and foreign friends.

Addressing the opening ceremony last night, President Truong Tan Sang noted that national solidarity was a good tradition and a cultural heritage of the people, which created great strength to help the whole nation to achieve many victories over thousands of years of history.

He stressed that the solidarity was still the strongest source of power to help the country develop in a time of industrialisation and modernisation to build a socialist Viet Nam.

The President said the event was a meaningful celebration to enhance national solidarity, and reminded all Vietnamese people to hand down those values to the next generation.

Also yesterday, a sculpture camp that gathered 30 artists from the Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Kontum opened at the event.

An exhibition of the best of Ha Noi's traditional handicraft villages showcasing their talents will also be open throughout the week.

Traditional festivals, performances and dances from across the country will be organised to celebrate the country's cultural diversity.

The well-known floating markets of Cai Rang and Phung Hieu in Can Tho Province along with ethnic markets from mountainous regions will be opened on Wednesday and run throughout the weekend, while jockeys will race oxen from Ha Noi to Dong Mo on Thursday morning and Saturday afternoon.

Organisers will also introduce the spiritual rituals and ceremonies of various ethnic groups such as the Lu group from Lai Chau (on Tuesday afternoon), the Jrai group from Gia Lai Province (Tuesday afternoon) and the Ta Oi from Quang Tri Province (Wednesday afternoon).

Kites are expected to play a starring role throughout the week. Additionally, workshops on preserving and promoting heritage and cultural values will be held during the event, which will end on Sunday. — VNS