The Spring Còn (Cotton Ball) and "Ban Flower" Festival of the Thái in Điện Biên

Abstract

Điện Biên is a mountainous province bordering Laos and China. There are 19 ethnic groups living together there, and the province has a total population of 504,500. The Thái account for 37.99% of the province's population, the H'Mong 34%, the Kinh 18.42%, the Khơ Mú 3.2%, and other ethnic groups such as Lào, Dao, Kháng, Hà Nhì, Hoa, Xinh Mun, Cống, Tày, Sán Chay, Phù Lá, Si La, Nùng, Mường, and Thổ complete the rest. The culture of the Thái is a valuable tradition contributing to diversity within the unity of Vietnamese culture. The culture of the Thái in Điện Biên province is a key component of the culture of northwest Vietnam. In this article, tocusing on the spring "cotton balls" and the ban (Bauhinia variegata) flowers festival of the Thái in Điện Biên, we hope to contribute to supporting the diversity of culture of the ethnic groups in northwest Vietnam.