This is the second time that Yen Bai province has hosted the programme. Four main festivals will take place at Au Co Temple, Thuong (Upper) Temple, Dong Cuong Temple and Hung Kings Temple.

According to Nguyen Van Ngoc, vice chairman of Yen Bai provincial People’s Committee, the programme will feature a wide range of cultural activities such as the Sa Pa tourism and cultural week, Thac Ba discovery week and Bac Ha tourism and cultural week, Muong Lo tourism and cultural week, the second international mountaineering tournament, the Vietnam-China trade fair and the Tay Bac tourism and cultural fair. A workshop will also be held to improve the quality of tourism services in Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces.

Through the event, the tourism industry of Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho aims to serve approximately five million holidaymakers, including 350,000 foreigners, and earn more than VND800 billion. Yen Bai province alone is expected to provide services for 250,000 visitors and earn VND55 billion. It also aims to call for investment in the local tourism industry to build brands of its tourism products and services.

Located in the north-western mountainous and midland region and built up by the Red and Chay rivers, Yen Bai, Lao Cai and Phu Tho provinces have the age-old tradition of national construction and defence. They have cultural similarities, many landscapes, cultural and historical relics which offer great potential for developing tourism services. In addition, Lao Cai province has the Hekou international bordergate linking China’s Yunnan province to Vietnam’s Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong economic corridor.

To fully tap their potential, the three provinces have agreed to strengthen tourism and trade development by organising the programme Tracing the Roots.

Since the programme was first launched in 2005, the tourism industry of the three provinces have provided services for more than 10 million visitors, earned VND1.1 trillion and attracted more than VND2.3 trillion to tourism investment projects.

Annual festivals have helped local people raise the awareness about the preservation and promotion of cultural identities. Thanks to the organisation of festivals, tourism infrastructure facilities such as temples and pagodas have been refurbished or built. In addition, the programme has also helped promote socio-economic development in Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho provinces.