The fifth annual Ngay hoi que toi (My village’s festival) opens today at Van Thanh Theme Park in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Thanh District.

A variety of specialty foods will be on offer from around the country and visitors are invited to peruse handmade crafts at market-style stalls. Traditional music will be performed throughout the cultural festival, including regional folk songs of ethnic groups from the central region.

Organized by the Saigontourist Holding Company, the three-day event also gives visitors the chance to learn how to make bamboo baskets, mats, leaf hats, pottery, brocade, rice paper, and even a variety of Vietnamese cocktails.

A special children’s area lets kids make their own toys from clay, banana-tree parts, coconuts and bamboo leaves.

The festival runs February 20-22 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Tickets can be purchased at the park entrance and cost VND140,000 (US$8) for adults and VND100,000 ($6) for children.

Reported by Ha Dinh Nguyen