HA NOI (VNS)— Handicrafts and specialties of seven ethnic groups in the northern highlands provinces will be featured in the Northern Highlands Market festival, from Saturday to Wednesday at the Viet Nam Ethnic Groups Culture - Tourism Village in the outskirts of Ha Noi.

Village management board deputy head Hoang Van Hong said the event aims not only to serve tourists, but also to preserve and promote ethnic groups' culture and create an opportunity for ethnic people from different provinces to meet and exchange traditions.

On Northwestern Cuisine Day on Sunday and Northeastern Cuisine Day on Tuesday, regional representatives will explain the history, process, materials, ingredients and recipes of traditional dishes such as roasted pig, rice pancake, Mong rice wine, Tay cakes, Thai seven-colour glutinous rice, men men (steamed ground maize) and thang co (horse or beef meat cooked with bones and tripe).

Ethnic women will also demonstrate pottery making, brocade weaving and drawing patterns on cloth. Attendees can see unique rituals such as traditional dancing, singing and folk games.

The Viet Nam Ethnic Groups Culture - Tourism Village is located in Son Tay Town, 40km west of downtown Ha Noi. To mark the festival, the village's managing board will offer free guided tours to various destinations in the village including Khmer temples, Cham towers and traditional communal houses of Ba Na and Gia Rai ethnic groups. — VNS