The festival was held annually in Chieng Khoa commune during the ban blossom season. After administrative restructuring and mergers last year, it has been maintained by the new To Mua commune, preserving and celebrating the locality’s cultural heritage.

This year’s Ban Flower Festival took place in Na Cha hamlet, featuring two main parts. The opening ceremony, held on the morning of March 20 at the Nang Bang Muong shrine, saw the hamlet shaman lead sacred rituals, invoking river and mountain deities as well as Nang Ban (Miss Ban) to join the celebration, and bless the community with favourable weather and a bountiful harvest. Locals and visitors then immersed themselves in a lively atmosphere filled with cultural and music performances, and sports activities.

A highlight of the festival was the “Colours of Ban Flower in To Mua” performance, staged by staff and artists from the General Service Centre, alongside local artisans and performers from To Mua commune. Throughout the evening, lively songs and dances drew audiences into a vibrant cultural experience rich in local identity. The carefully choreographed acts brought to life the legend of Nang Bang and Nang Muong (Miss Bang and Miss Muong), two talented and beautiful Thai girls whose stories remain deeply embedded in the collective memory and spiritual life of the local community. The festival also featured a Thai ethnic costume contest, with graceful young women showcasing traditional attire, leaving a lasting impression on visitors. 

Nguyen Khac Hung from To Hieu ward said: “The Ban Flower Festival in To Mua left a very special impression on me. The festival space is beautiful and rich in local culture, especially the ethnic costume showcase, which was incredibly captivating. Visiting here, I truly felt the warmth and hospitality of locals and the pristine beauty of this land.”

Notably, the festival featured booths from hamlets across the commune, showcasing traditional brocade, handwoven crafts, as well as local agricultural products and outstanding OCOP (One Commune One Product) items such as To Mua tea, red sage, and other medicinal herbs.

Mac Quang Hai, Director of To Mua Tea Investment and Production Joint Stock Company, said the firm currently produces and sells products including Shan Tuyet tea, ancient-tree tea, and black tea.

“By participating in this festival, we aim to introduce the commune’s signature teas to visitors while promoting the To Mua tea brand,” he said. “It’s also an opportunity for our company to connect with the market, expand sale, and contribute to raising the value of local agricultural products.”

The festival also showcased a variety of sports and traditional games, including volleyball, stick-pushing, tug-of-war, and men’s and women’s football, with hundreds of athletes taking part. The fish-catching contest at Tan stream in Na Cha hamlet recreated the daily life of the Thai ethnic community, closely tied to rivers and nature. Eleven teams, comprising 22 agile and skillful contestants, competed amid cheers from enthusiastic spectators, creating a vibrant atmosphere at the festival.

Nguyen Manh Thang, Chairman of the To Mua commune People's Committee, said the festival is to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of local ethnic communities. It also marks the start of activities aimed at encouraging socio-economic development in the new year.

Cultural, sports, and tourism activities at the festival serve as a bridge between the commune’s ethnic communities and visitors, helping showcase and promote the people and landscapes of To Mua to friends and travelers from near and far, he added. 

The festival left a lasting impression on both locals and visitors. Against the pristine white bloom of ban blossoms, To Mua emerged vibrant and full of life, stepping confidently into a new chapter of development. It is determined to transform into an appealing, culturally rich destination, ready to attract travellers exploring Son La.