On November 10, Lao Cai authorities held a press conference to announce details of the Red River Festival - Lao Cai 2025. Themed “Where the Red River enters Vietnam,” the festival will take place from November 18 to 24 across Lao Cai, Cam Duong, and several other wards and communes in the province.

The Red River Festival 2025 will officially open at 8:00 PM on November 19 and include a weeklong series of activities.

This event holds significant political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural meaning, serving as a key driver for economic growth and international cooperation between Lao Cai, other provinces along the Red River basin in Vietnam, and Yunnan Province, China.

At the press conference, Vu Thi Hien Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of the Lao Cai People's Committee and Head of the Red River Festival 2025 Organizing Committee, emphasized Lao Cai's unique role in the historical and cultural journey of the Red River civilization, as it marks the point where the river enters Vietnamese territory.

According to her, this is not only a geographical advantage but also a profound cultural value closely tied to the development of the provinces along the Red River basin.

Therefore, the Red River Festival 2025 offers Lao Cai the opportunity to honor, preserve, and effectively leverage the river’s cultural values, transforming heritage into a sustainable socio-economic growth resource.

“Lao Cai aims to turn the Red River's cultural heritage into a shared asset of the community, using it as a catalyst for tourism development, trade, and international cooperation,” Hanh affirmed.

Previously, Lao Cai developed and approved a long-term plan for the Red River Festival from 2025 to 2035.

In the 2025-2026 phase, the festival will be held at the provincial level, featuring participation from Red River basin provinces in Vietnam and Honghe Prefecture (Yunnan, China).

From 2027 to 2035, the event will be expanded into a national-level cultural and tourism festival with international elements, organized biennially with support from central government ministries and agencies.

Duc Hoang