Visiting the village is like a journey back in time. The Bena people are thought to have resided in this valley for some 1,200 years, but Yoseph Rojakale, head of the Deru Lalulewa tribe, said the village might be older than that.

Strolling through the village, visitors can admire Bena’s traditional houses still preserved in their original form.

There are a total of nine clans that reside in 49 houses, although not all of them live in the village area. Each clan has two main houses, one of them is for their female elders called saka puu, which has a figure called bhaga on the top of the house. For the male elders, their house is called saka lobo, which is marked by a statue sitting on its roof. It is wrapped in palm fibers and is holding a machete and a spear. Each main house is accompanied by a plain house that has no symbols called kaka.

The Bena people built the houses using natural materials such as bamboo and wood called oja, which was taken from the surrounding forests. Symbols and pictures of animals decorate the interior and exterior of the houses.

“We call the curves lalu, susu and mesa, which mean ‘father’, ‘mother’ and ‘child’,” said Yoseph. “Horses are a symbol of energy, meaning that we need to have horse power to do our work, while chickens are to remind us to go farming early in the morning at 6 a.m. and come back at 6 p.m. We have to start early to keep our farm safe from monkeys that like to steal our harvest.”

In front of the house, colorful traditional woven fabrics are put on display and can be bought as souvenirs. Women weave during mornings inside of the house in a specific area called teda moa, while the men work in the field.

Yoseph said the price to build a house could reach up to Rp 350 million ( US$25,773 ), which involved a special ceremony that sacrifices 20 bulls. The money is collected from donations and the bulls’ horns would be displayed in front of the house to respect the donors.

“These decorations are symbols of our gotong-royong [mutual cooperation]. It costs us a lot of money to build this house since the price of wood is very expensive.”

Yoseph later revealed an ancient stone that cannot be removed.

“This stone has to stay here. If someone takes it away, disaster will strike and destroy the entire village.”

This was the incredible attractive facet of the Gobi desert attributed to the honest and introvert people of Dunhuang, a city in China’s north-western Gansu province, which is now hastening the revival of the Silk Road.

Holding a particularly important position on the ancient road and described as an oasis in the Gobi desert, the city used to welcome foreign merchants and monks from the West as well as officials and soldiers from central China to bring their own cultures to and make it a trading centre and a cultural “melting pot”.

The economic, military, political and cultural activities which took place at this crossroad provided the basis for the flourishing of one of China’s earliest Buddhist centres.

Most Buddhist monks came to China from India and Central Asia by way of the Silk Road. Foreign monks and their Chinese disciples formed the earliest Buddhist communities at Dunhuang in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.

Dunhuang today remains a thriving town surrounded by fields of cotton and maize. Green energy with solar power plants has emerged as the potential for the city to help cut pollution, reduce water consumption and boost social economic development of China.

And it is also a famous tourist destination.

This is because of the painted and decorated Buddhist cave temples 25km southeast of the town, the Mogao caves.

The Mogao cave temples were made between AD 400 and 1200 by Buddhist believers, including officials, soldiers, merchants, and monks, in addition to nuns, travellers and the ordinary men and women of Dunhuang. At that time, Buddhism was the main religion of Dunhuang and China.

The message of Buddhism had been brought by monks and other travellers from India and the original Buddhist texts were in Indian languages written on leaves from palm trees which grew in northern India.

Some of these were brought to the city by monks over 1,500 years ago and were kept in a special library at the Buddhist caves.

A legend tells the story of the first monk at Dunhuang – monk Yuezun – who was far away from home. His family was in central China but he had left them to become a Buddhist monk, seeking enlightenment, and had travelled over a thousand miles west to the remote area of Gansu.

One day when wandering in the desert southeast of Dunhuang, he had a vision of a golden light emitted from Mount Sanwei as if a thousand Buddhas were glowing.

He thought it was a message from the Buddha to make a shrine here, and so he dug a small cave from the cliff in order to meditate on his vision and a statue of the Buddha to pray to.

Soon words spread and other monks joined him and dug their own caves for prayer, rest and meditation. Others paid for more elaborate temple caves, hiring artists to paint the walls with beautiful images of Buddhism and sculptors to make statues of the Buddha and his disciples.

Today almost 500 caves survive and the site is famous throughout the world. It is one of the world’s greatest art galleries.

Fast growing economy

With a strategic goal to recover the world’s trade journey between the east and west and to lay out an extensive vision for close relations with dozens of countries that were loosely connected along the Silk Road more than 1,000 years ago, the Chinese government is pouring billions of dollars into Gansu Province and has chosen Dunhuang as one of the key targets of the nation’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Though it is still a controversial plan that has caused geopolitical scepticism among both, westerners and those traders from the East that they could increasingly become too dependent on China, the strategy has obviously breathed a new life to this desert city.

Dunhuang welcomed an explosive GDP growth in recent years thanks to its outstanding success in tourism development.

With a total population of more than 180,000 but only a minor 28,000 officially working in tourism industry, Dunhuang last year welcomed 6.6 million tourists and is expected to receive about 8 million this year – more than 40 times the number of the local population, the city’s Tourism Department reports.

Dunhuang deputy mayor, Wang Xiaoling, said that in the past five years, the city’s GDP increased about two folds to 11.5 billion yuan, or about $1.8 billion, in which the culture tourism contributed approximately 60 per cent.

Last year alone, total investment in Dunhuang assets reached 19 billion yuan ($2.9 billion), said the official.

Dunhuang, along with 29 other cities of China, has entered the list of tourism destinations that build qualified international characteristics, according to China’s National Tourism Administration.

Dunhuang is the only city in Gansu on the list. Entering the list provides more opportunities for Dunhuang city, according to the authority.

As it will hold the First Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, the city is expected to promote tourism, comprehensive service and its brand recognition by focussing on tourism content and advanced regional collaboration.

International Cultural Expo

Dunhuang has embarked on preparations for an international cultural event since 2013, with the aim of promoting a cultural exchange, laying the foundation for the dynamic trade and economic co-operation between countries.

To prepare for the event, the first Silk Road International Culture Expo (SRICE) scheduled to take place in September this year, the city is in a hurry to complete building a large international expo complex centre with a total investment of 1.6 billion yuan ($245 million).

The complex includes a 126,000 square-metre large exhibition centre, a conference centre with a capacity to accommodate 3,000 people and a theatre for 1,200 viewers.

Inspired by the spirit long formed through exchanges on the Silk Road, the city authority expects that through the festival, cultural communication, co-operation and development can be enhanced.

Moreover, the expo is being held with the goal to advocate absorbing the best from other civilisations, and to promote mutual understanding among residents, the deputy mayor said.

SRICE (Dunhuang) will become a professional and international cultural expo, and serve as an important platform for cultural exchange and economic development, said the official.

Living in a rural area means a lack of fun places to go to like in a city such as restaurants, nightclubs, bars and shopping centres, but you can still have a great time during the weekends by having picnics by the river.

Especially now that the weather is so hot, it’s undoubtedly the best place to be, where there are beautiful surroundings and clean, natural water.

Last month, I went back home to Hadtha village in Keo-oudom district, Vientiane province, about 13 kilometres from the town of Thalath in Thoulakhom district.

It was really a wonderful time for me to be there as some of my friends had returned there from their farm for the weekend.

In the early morning, we went for a picnic just as we used to do with our parents when we were eight years old. But we didn’t take any food. We just brought some masks, fishing nets, forked sticks and something to cook with, knowing we could get our lunch from the river.

When I arrived at the river, I remembered the beach but while riding in the boat I could recall very little because the water was very low and a lot of things had changed. It wasn’t as I had envisaged it but the memories came flooding back after talking to my friends.

We took a boat on the Nam Lik for about an hour until we got to a place called Kang Kayang (Kachang Rapids) where there’s a good place for a picnic under a big tree. We collected some firewood to make a fire so we could grill some fish.

After just one hour or half an hour my friend brought some fish for me to grill. I asked him how he had caught them and he told me our friends had used their nets.

It seemed to be very easy to catch fish and fishing is something I love, so I joined them, wearing a mask and wielding a forked stick. The water was very clear but I couldn’t see many fish because I wasn’t very experienced and I couldn’t hold my breath for long enough under water. I was also a bit nervous about going into deep water. And then I realised that fishing wasn’t so easy for me any more.

While I was grilling the fish, I noticed that the two girls who had come with us had disappeared but then I spotted them on the other side of the river where they were picking some vegetables to eat with the fish. Some of my friends were collecting ant eggs so that we could add them to our fish soup.

When the fish were cooked we called all of our friends to eat together. We were eating and reminiscing about our childhood but some couldn’t stay for long because they were in a hurry to go fishing again.

I remember that the rivers used to be very picturesque and there were a lot more rocks, so I asked my friends what had happened. Some of them explained that we hadn’t been able to go that far and it wasn’t possible to go there any more because a hydropower dam was under construction.

The water is very low now, so it’s difficult to get there by boat and it’s also part of a conservation area. So they don’t allow anyone to go to that area.

A few years ago tourists used to visit this place to play in the water and take boat trips and they all said it was a beautiful place that not many people knew about yet, so it was a great place to set up camp and have a picnic.

But nowadays not many people come here, including the locals. However, it’s a great place for an outing because it has everything you need for a picnic and you can have fun with your friends or family. It made me feel that it was truly a paradise for humans.

Xamtay district governor Hinthong Heuangchansouk told Vientiane Times recently that the district has a wealth of scenic beauty, cultural interest and historic sites.

“Our district has considerable potential for tourism and our waterfalls are of particular interest. For example, Phavang waterfall is a key part of our tourism development plan,” he said.

Phavang waterfall is about 30km from the centre of Xamtay district, in Pao Neua village. The water cascades over a 700-metre drop and has 21 levels.

“We opened the waterfall to the public last month. Hundreds of local residents came to the opening ceremony but we don’t have an accurate record of the number of visitors coming here,” Hinthong said.

Xamtay district borders on Viengxay district and has a road link with Vietnam to the east.

“We want to promote the potential benefits of our tourist attractions in the hope of teaming up with Vietnam in the years to come,” he said.

Hinthong explained that the key to their tourism development plan was infrastructure development, especially roads, so that people can access the main tourist attractions in the district.

“The development of tourism in Xamtay district will focus on sustainability and avoid negative impacts on the environment, biodiversity and wildlife,” he said.

According to Hinthong, Xamtay district has more than 15 waterfalls but they are not easily accessible.

“We are now hoping that investors will build facilities at the most outstanding visitor attractions but they will have to submit the necessary paperwork to the provincial and district authorities,” he added.

Xamtay officially became a district two decades ago and infrastructure is still limited because of the difficult terrain.

But hidden gems lie deep in the forest, and caves and waterfalls await discovery by intrepid adventurers.

Xamtay district is five to six hours by car from Xamneua district, the capital of Huaphan province. The road is paved and passes through some dramatic scenery, with tree-covered mountains and deep ravines.

This becomes a common refrain as they rhapsodise about making pilgrimages to the Japanese capital almost every year, its teeming streets a paradise of shopping, food, technology and efficiency. Everyone seems to have his own list of “must- dos” – a ramen list, a sushi list, a museum list. I am soon completely worn out by lists.

So my husband and I, together with another couple who are good friends of ours, decide to go on a different sort of pilgrimage: a four- day, three-night self-guided walk on the Nakasendo in central Japan. It is an ancient 533km trail established in the Edo period (1603 to 1868) that connected Edo (now Tokyo) to Kyoto, the imperial capital.

We are walking only a tiny section of the Nakasendo, literally “central mountain route”, about 35km of walking plus a few bus and train transfers between the Kiso Valley towns of Magome and Kiso Hirasawa, but the route offered by tour operator Oku Japan (www.okujapan.com) promises a challenging, invigorating walk through low mountain passes and lush bamboo forests.

We decide to book a trip during the first week of April, traditionally the peak of the cherry blossom season in Japan. I press my face against the glass as we take the train from Narita Airport into the city. Neon lights wink beguilingly from every crowded street corner. But we are in Tokyo for less than a day before we are on board the shinkansen (bullet train) heading south-west. The long, smooth snout of the train slices through the city, quickly shedding it for vast expanses of countryside.

Our starting point in Magome is a bustling tourist pitstop. Shopkeepers selling gohei-mochi, rice balls served with a special miso sauce, beckon to us from open windows. As we ascend the cobblestone path through the village, dodging clutches of tourists with selfie sticks, I question myself: Is this what our walk will be like over the next four days?

But in about half an hour, just about every tourist seems to have vanished. We see the opening to a bamboo grove and a gleaming bell on a wooden post, one of hundreds of bear bells on the well-marked route. Small brown bears live in the forests and in the mountains, and even though we do not see any, hikers are encouraged to ring these bells – all sharp and sonorous – to warn the animals of their presence.

A group of half a dozen local walkers beams at us, greeting us with a warm “konnichiwa” (good afternoon) as they head back towards Magome, and they are the last large group of people we will see on our entire walk.

We have lunch at a tiny 15-seat soba restaurant run by the wife of the village postman, who plies us with endless dishes, including horse meat, and is tickled by our attempts at speaking Japanese.

Our walk takes us through small farms, past family shrines and perfectly manicured little gardens. We’ve been talking and laughing, then one of our friends suggests: “Let’s spend the next half an hour just walking and see what that’s like.” We agree to spend the next half-hour in meditative silence.

We pause to drink in the sight of thousands of tall, narrow pines standing guard over our dirt path, their leaves whispering in the light breeze. Our shoes make soft, snuffling noises on a carpet of fallen leaves. I feel an odd welling up in my heart as I look at the canopy, a tapestry of branches silhouetted against sunlight. I am no longer a hiker; I am a character in some sort of enchanted forest, where a crafty tanuki (the shapeshifting Japanese raccoon dog of local folklore) might emerge from the shadows.

The four of us have not spoken a word, but we are – simultaneously – profoundly and utterly moved.

We soon see O-Tsumago, the small hamlet where we will spend the night. Tanuki statues beckon from the doors of each ryokan. We stay at the Maruya Minshuku (tel: +81-264-57-3117), a cosy family-run inn housed in a 230-year-old wooden building. It has two shared baths with bathtubs made of cypress wood from the Kiso Valley and filled with hot, fragrant water, a delicious mix of bath salts that make me feel like a brand new person after a soak.

The walk on the second day is the longest at 18.4km; our guidebook indicates an elevation gain of about 723m. It takes us through a stunning, dense bamboo forest. Small rabbit-like animals skitter through the trees, too quick for us to identify. An eagle circling overhead pauses to rest on a tall post, observing us as we trudge through the drizzle. As we walk through one of the quiet hamlets, at least five Shiba Inus, one of Japan’s most well-loved dog breeds, bark at the disturbance, tails wagging cautiously.

The ascent is beautiful, taking us over bubbling streams, through rich farmland and picturesque little villages, where we greet lone farmers at work. However, the long, winding descent on tarmac takes us past swathes of charred and felled forest, leaving us wondering what might have happened.

We arrive at the Nojiri train station, ravenous after about seven hours of walking and in time to catch the train departing for Kiso- Fukushima, where a staff member from the Komanoyu Ryokan (tel: +81-264-23-2288) immediately bundles us off in a van to the gorgeous inn, which offers indoor and outdoor baths for guests.

Once we are dressed in yukata robes provided by the hotel, we are plied with sake and a 10-course dinner featuring ingredients sourced mostly from the area, including grilled salmon and tender beef.

We take the train to nearby Yabuhara the next morning, embarking on one of the loveliest walks of the trip, a climb up a forested trail to the Torii-touge Pass. It is a crisp, sunny day and the weather is perfect for a good hike, offering sweeping views of the valley below, including Narai, “the town of 1,000 inns”, where we will spend the night.

Perched atop the mountain pass, nearly 1,200m high, is a beautiful shrine built in the 15th century by a prominent samurai warrior to thank the mountain spirit for helping him win a significant battle.

We have passed several small jizo (stone bodhisattvas) on our trip so far. While most of us are not religious, we stop at each one to thank any mountain spirit that might be nearby and sometimes leave a small stack of rocks next to the statues as a little traveller’s prayer.

In Narai, we stay at Iseya inn (tel: +81-264-34-3051), which was established in 1818. During the Edo period, it served as one of the town’s two porter-service offices. Its private baths are made of Kiso umbrella pine and there are only 10 guestrooms. Narai’s historic buildings are well- preserved and travellers throughout the years have rested at its inns after climbing the Torii-touge.

Our journey ends the next day with a short but pleasant walk alongside a burbling river to Kiso- Hirasawa. We stop to buy some pieces of lacquerware, which the town is known for, and strike up a halting conversation in English with the storekeeper, who says he much prefers the peace of village living to that of the city.

I do not give that conversation much thought until we are back in Tokyo navigating the labyrinthine Shinjuku station, hemmed in by thousands of commuters as they make their way from one train to the next.

The city, I suppose, has its own pulse, a rapid palpitation of schedules to follow and trains to catch. We stay in a capsule hotel for a night just for the fun of it, but the isolation of urban living soon catches up with me.

Those four days of walking, slowly, from village to village, where time becomes elastic and stretches out, languorously, ahead of us – I think that slowness is something to be savoured in a world where we constantly race ahead, but leave so much behind.

Statistics from the province’s Information, Culture and Tourism Department show that in 2014 some 187,240 people visited Oudomxay including 102,050 from overseas. Last year’s total of 215,448 visitors included 127,065 from overseas. Revenue earned from tourism amounted to more than US$12 million in 2015, compared to just US$3.7 million earned in 2005.

The provincial authorities have continued to develop infrastructure and facilities at tourist sites, hoping to provide better services. The province has 106 tourist sites including 54 of natural beauty. Another 85 sites are waiting to be surveyed while only 21 sites have been completely surveyed. A total of 33 sites are already offering full services to visitors.

According to the Oudomxay Tourist Information Centre, the provincial authorities are now gearing up to improve the road link from the town centre to Chom Ong cave and also the facilities around the site. The improvement project is being funded by the Asian Development Bank at a cost of more than US$14 million and is slated for completion in 2019.

The hidden gem of Chom Ong cave is a recently rediscovered natural attraction located about 45km from Xay district centre near a Khmu village called Chom Ong.

An official from the Oudomxay provincial tourism promotion unit, Vilaiphet Ounaphone, told Vientiane Times on Friday “Chom Ong cave is recognised as being one of the largest caves in Southeast Asia. It is nearly 16km long and is ranked at the sixth longest in the world. The longest cave in the world is 44km, according to a European survey team.”

“Near the cave is a home-stay for visitors that can accommodate about 20 people. If there are more they can stay with people in Chom Ong village. Besides exploring the cave, visitors can enjoy trekking, swimming in the river by the cave, and take part in the traditional dances and lifestyle of the Khmu ethnic group,” he said.

The Oudomxay tourism website reports that the cave system stretches along a 4km long mountain ridge and has a parallel running and interconnecting fossil and river passage. It’s been explored to a length of 15,827km (preliminary) with several wide open side passages remaining. The exploration was done by the Lao-European Cave project.

Oudomxay province now has 19 hotels, 68 guesthouses, four resorts and 188 restaurants.

How to get Chom Ong cave: You can book a tour at the Tourist Information Centre in Oudomxay province or if you want to do it on your own, a car or motorbike can be rented in Xay town. There are two ways to get to the cave, either from the south or the north. The south route starts from Nasao village (on the way to Luang Prabang) and runs for about 45km, while the northern approach is on the way to Luang Namtha province. When you get to the KM24 marker at Nambortakai village, take the road on the left which is just after the village and with the sign “18km from the main road to the cave”.

If you are already planning to go to Bali this long weekend, consider these tips below to ensure that you have a memorable island getaway.

Choose late-night or early-morning flights

Traffic from the airport can be at its worst during this long weekend. So if you haven’t got your ticket yet, it’s better to choose a late-night flight, or better yet, very early-morning trip.

It’s best to arrange your airport pick up with your hotel, since the airport taxis can be very expensive and hard to find.

Stay in one area

Traffic in Bali can be very challenging during long weekends so traveling around the island in your own vehicle is not recommended. Not only will it be more costly to hire a car, you will also contribute to making the traffic even worse.

But, then again, why not choose to stay in one area and explore it by foot? Staying in Canggu or Sanur can be a good idea since they have distinct characteristics.

Canggu is the next hip place in Bali, where you can explore boutique shops, rustic restaurants, gorgeous black sandy beaches and thriving mixed communities. While Sanur is still a charming village that will stun you with its long stretches of white beach, tranquil neighborhood and beautiful seaside cafes.

Avoid mainstream places

It’s better to avoid Pandawa beach, downtown Seminyak, Ubud’s Monkey Forest and Kuta Beach during this long weekend.

Why not explore East Bali or Nusa Lembongan instead? The former is famous for its fantastic marine life and bold culture. You can visit its stunning Lempuyangan temple and learn more about Balinese architecture or perhaps head to the Nusa islands ( Penida and Lembongan ) to check out their amazing landscape, both on land and underwater.

Do more activities

Instead of going here and there and getting stuck in traffic, you can try to do more activities instead.

If you’re an avid diver or love snorkeling, this long weekend can be your best chance to explore your relationship with the ocean by staying close to diving points. East Bali is arguably the best area to stay in since you can easily hop from Tulamben, Amed and Padang Bai without having to worry about traffic.

You can also explore other interesting things like trying Bali’s best spas, signing up for a cooking class, renting a bicycle and strolling around Sanur, kayaking in a mangrove forest and many more.

Avoid Bukit area

Unless you plan to stay in Uluwatu, going to Bukit or the Uluwatu area is a bad idea as you will get stuck in traffic and miss a lot of things.

If you do love the beach, we recommend you stay there, then you can go beach hopping to Bali’s most gorgeous beaches such as Suluban, Padang Padang, Dreamland and many more.

Draw up a reasonable itinerary

Planning to go from Single Fin in Uluwatu then to La Laguna in Canggu makes no sense. If you really want to visit popular destinations, make a reasonable itinerary by visiting nearby places. Plan which main destination you desire and see other places nearby, instead of going farther afield.

For example, if you are eager to explore the beaches in Nusa Dua, you can opt to do exciting water sports in Tanjung Benoa or challenge yourself with paragliding, then head to Jimbaran for a sunset and candle-lit seafood dinner by the beach.

Organised by Kedah And Perlis Rice Millers Association, the festival aims to tell the story of the heritage of Kedah’s paddy farmers through storytelling sessions, music, traditional rice planting sessions, photographs and documents.

As part of the programme, the Kedah paddy farmers led festival visitors into the paddy field to plant rice the traditional way. A pair of buffaloes were also used to plough the field.

The festival kicked off with The Art of paddy Heritage Workshop from April 22-25. Some 150 students from Keat Hwa High School in Alor Setar took part in this art, music and drama workshop. They learnt how to make a scarecrow and create artworks inspired by paddy planting.

On April 29, the Tradition of paddy Seedling, a public talk (and paddy seedling rehearsal) was held. Three paddy farmers of Thai, Chinese and Malay origin shared their knowledge on old farming traditions. Kedah And Perlis Rice Millers Association’s chairman Ong Soon Thye and paddy researcher Ong Ching Zhong talked about the rice mill, types of rice as well as tradition and modern farming techniques.

Festival director Chong Keat Aun says the festival was the first of its kind in Malaysia.

“There are plans to rotate the event venue to other rice mills in Kedah and Perlis,” says Chong, an Alor Setar-born arts practitioner.

The festival’s slogan is Sesuap Nasi, Warisan paddy (A Mouthful Of Rice, paddy Heritage). From April 30 to May 1, there was be a free concert involving 150 performers. Shows included manora dance, paddy field drum performance (a combination of gendang silat drums and Chinese drums), Chinese opera, and wayang kulit.

A highlight of the festival was Rumah paddy (paddy House) which was erected at edge of a paddy field at the festival site.

“Two modified steel containers, timber and bamboo structures are used to set up this temporary structure which will remain until Sept 17,” says Alan Teh, curator of the art exhibition.

Visitors were taken on a tour of the artworks by 15 local artists. Teh says the goal of the festival is to raise awareness to the hardships of paddy farmers, especially to the younger generation.

“At the same time, it is also to bring attention to the rapid urbanisation of Alor Setar, where many tracts of agriculture lands are being converted for housing and commercial purposes. This is quite alarming as Kedah is the rice bowl of Malaysia,” says Teh.

The closing ceremony will be the Harvest Festival from Sept 15-17 at the same venue.

Dubbed the biggest kite festival in the north, the four-day event has attracted 100 kite artisans flyers from across Vietnam and teams from other nations, including Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

“I think this is a meaningful entertainment activity during the long holiday,” Tran Quyet Chien, an audience member, told Viet Nam News. “There have not been many festivals of this kind organised in Hanoi that offer children a chance to see folk art and play with kites.”

“It’s even more appealing to adults with many prize-winning artists flyers from the country and overseas participating in the event,” he said. “The shows are spectacular and use modern equipment. It feels like I am reliving my childhood with kites soaring in the wind and the melodious sound of flutes attached to the kites reverberating through the skies.”

Dao Duy Ha, from the HCM City Kite Club, said he had advised the organising board to invite only those artists flyers that flew the most unique kinds of kites.

“On this Reunification Day [April 30], we would like to entertain the capital’s audience with the most unique kinds of kites that people have never even heard about,” he said. “We will try to organise such events more often and turn Ecopark into a playground for city dwellers, making them an ideal destination.”

Ha said the 12 kite artists flyers from overseas include the world-famous Hoac Gia Lam, a Hanoi-born artist man residing in Canada, who has won various prizes for his kite performances and designs and is considered one of the world’s top 10 kite performance artist performers.

The others include Prince Ida Bagus Ugrasena Narendra and Princess Helmi Ginanti from Indonesia, Teo Joo Lye Peter from Singapore, and Leong Chee Wan from Malaysia.

“The best domestic kite teams are also participating,” he said. “Among them is artist Pham Quang Tam of the Sao Vang kite team who can make three kites fly together with music in the background,” he said.

Lam revealed he loved flying kites in Hanoi when he was a child. When he settled down in Canada, he saw some locals flying kites and began to indulge in the sport again in 1985.

“I learned a lot from other experienced artists,flyers,” he said. “At first, I had to learn kite-flying skills, and then, I started competing in contests. Gradually, I accumulated several achievements. In the past, one needed favourable windy conditions to fly kites. Nowadays, many modern kites don’t need the wind at all. They can fly in all conditions except during thunderstorms.”

“The kite I fly requires a wind velocity of only 3km per hour,” he said. “Flying a kite makes a person feel relaxed, happy, excited and proud, especially when flying a kite they designed.”

He said he now mostly designs kites for others to fly.

Talking about his performance, Lam said he wants better control over his kites, hoping to make them dance in time to the music to make the performance more interesting and attractive to the audience.

“Today’s youth have countless options for entertainment compared with the past,” he said. “Young people should play the sport because when they master it, they will be invited to perform at events all over the world. Making something ourselves gives us a sense of pride. It’s better than just sitting at home, watching TV and playing with an iPad.”

Together with Lam’s kite display, performances by the Airnergy Group from Singapore wowed the audience the most, with their four-line kites controlled by four members, with music playing in the background.

“They must have spent lots of time practising,” viewer Nguyen Thu Hien said. “After seeing their performance, I fully believe that nothing is impossible for people who have a strong team spirit. They can even make kites dance in the sky like real dancers.”

“The wind is good here, and the people are friendly,” Zulkifli Said from Singapore’s Airnergy Group said. “We hope to return to Hanoi.

“Our kites are made from long-lasting nylonpolyester. They can last for some 10 years. We don’t have to make new kites too often,” he said. “Our performance is based on faith. We need to be faithful (in our duty) to one another and be kind to all humankind.”

He said the group practises twice a month. Its members have been together for four years and have travelled throughout the world to perform.

The group has performed in Viet Nam seven times, while this is their second visit to Hanoi.

In addition to getting the chance to witness 100m-long kites flying in the sky, festival-goers can create their own kites under the guidance of kite making artisans.