An art kite festival themed “Fly to Green Dreams” took place at Tieng Song Marine Ecotourism Complex in Long Hoa Commune, Ho Chi Minh City’s suburban district of Can Gio from May 24-25, 2014. The festival attracted the participation of more than120 artisans from 17 kite clubs nationwide, including Phuong Hoang Club, 30/4 Kite Club, Hue Kite Club, Nam Dinh Kite Club, Soc Son Kite Club and Thang Long - Hanoi Kite Club.
At the festival, the organization board presented more than 500 kites to visitors who felt excited when they themselves participated in flying kites. Furthermore, they were also instructed by artisans how to make a kite, fly the kite and technique on Japanese Rokkaku flying and fighting. Rokkaku is a traditional six-sided Japanese fighter kite which, traditionally, is made with bamboo spars and “washi” paper.
The image of kites reminds people of their sweet childhood.
A kite with the shape of the national flag of Vietnam.
A heart-shaped kite conveys a message of “I Love Vietnam”.
A sail boat-shaped kite conveys a message of “Towards the East Sea”.
A kite decorated with a portrait of President Ho Chi Minh and the national flag is flying in the sky.
A phoenix-shaped kite.
An old artisan tries to fly his kite that is decorated with the words
“Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagoes are Vietnamese flesh and blood”.
A large octopus-shaped kite is ready to fly in the sky.
Preparing a flute kite for the competition. |
During the festival, artisans showed the viewers wonderful performances with hundreds of kites in diverse sizes and unique shapes of fish, phoenix, dragon and octopus. They also made kites under the theme of landscapes, islands and sea that conveys a message of “Vietnam, a peace loving nation and on the way of international integration”. In the evening, the kites which were attached with LED lights created a sparkling space, fascinating the locals and visitors. Dzung, a kite artisan from Nam Dinh Province said: “When seeing my kite hovering in the sky, I feel very happy.”
The image of kites is very familiar to Vietnamese people and it is closely attached to their childhood and peaceful countryside landscape. Therefore, participating in the festival tourists seemed to back to their childhood’s sweet memories.
For years, kite flying has been very popular in Vietnam so anyone who has great passion for the art can participate in kite clubs nationwide.
Story: Nguyen Oanh - Photos: Nguyen Luan