The Northwest Quintessence Festival 2025, a large-scale regional cultural and tourism event will take place in Dien Bien from September 19th - 21st, 2025, featuring a wide variety of rich and unique activities that promise to bring people and visitors many extraordinary experiences.

Source: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

As one of the highlights of 2025, the Northwest Quintessence Festival – Dien Bien aims to further promote and strengthen tourism cooperation and development between the expanded Northwest provinces and Ho Chi Minh City. It contributes to effectively exploiting tourism potential and advantages of localities, gradually forming unique economic, cultural, and tourism products at regional and international levels. The festival will be organized on a grand scale with 8 highlight events:

1. Grand Opening Ceremony

To be held at the Provincial Stadium at 20:10 on September 19^th, 2025, and broadcast live on Provincial Radio and Television as well as rebroadcast by participating provinces and cities. The opening art program will be elaborately staged, blending tradition and modernity, with nearly 600 professional and amateur artists and performers. It will recreate the beauty of nature, heroic history, and the rich cultural identity of the Northwest. A highlight will be a fireworks display marking the beginning of the Festival.

2. Conference on Promotion, Advertising, and Development of Northwest – Ho Chi Minh City Tourism
To be held at the Dien Bien Phu Cultural Exchange and Tourism Information Center at 08:00 on September 20^th, 2025. This will be a platform to promote and introduce new tourism products and services, while exchanging solutions to strengthen linkages and cooperation in tourism development between the expanded Northwest provinces and Ho Chi Minh City.

3. Street Festival “Northwest Quintessence”

Scheduled at 20:10 on September 20^th, 2025, along Vo Nguyen Giap Street (from 7-5 Square to the Ceremony Ground of the Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument). The event promises a vibrant artistic space with parades, folk singing, folk dances, folk music, traditional costumes, and traditional crafts such as embroidery and brocade weaving. Nearly 900 officials, artisans, performers, students, and members of associations, clubs, and local communities will participate, creating a lively cultural exchange between visitors and local people.

4. Exhibition and Promotion of Unique Tourist Destinations of the Expanded Northwest Provinces and Ho Chi Minh City

To be held at 7-5 Square from September 19^th - 21^st, 2025. The exhibition will showcase outstanding tourist destinations, events, and tourism stimulus programs of the expanded Northwest provinces and Ho Chi Minh City, with additional participation from Northern Laos.

5. Northwest Culinary Festival

To be held at 7-5 Square from September 19^th - 21^st, 2025, featuring 14 provinces and cities along with local restaurants, units, and food businesses. The festival will present numerous signature dishes from different regions to visitors.

6. Photo Exhibition “Colors of the Northwest”

To be held at 7-5 Square from September 19^th - 21^st, 2025. The exhibition will showcase beautiful photos highlighting tourism potential, destinations, and traditional cultural identities of the expanded Northwest provinces and Ho Chi Minh City.

7. Experiential Tourism Program

Starting at 14:00 on September 20^th, 2025, visitors will tour historical sites such as Hill A1, De Castries’ Bunker, Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument, and the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum.

8. Art Exchange Program

At 20:00 on September 21^st, 2025, at 7-5 Square, performing groups from the expanded Northwest provinces and Ho Chi Minh City will present folk music, folk dances, traditional musical instruments, and other cultural performances showcasing the land, people, and unique cultural charm of each region.

The Festival is not only an occasion to honor the culture and history of the Northwest but also an opportunity for Dien Bien to promote its image, attract investment, and develop sustainable tourism. With thorough preparation and a rich program, the Northwest Quintessence Festival – Dien Bien 2025 promises to be a grand and colorful celebration. Dien Bien is ready to welcome tens of thousands of visitors, promoting its unique cultural identity while affirming culture’s role as a driving force for tourism and socio-economic development of the province./.

Dienbien.gov.vn