Tho Ha and Van are two ancient villages, residing on the riverside of Cau River, in Viet Yen commune, Bac Giang province. Until 1980s, Tho Ha specialized in making ceramic pottery wares, and then the villagers abandoned the old tradition and changed to making rice paper pancake, which makes the village well-known until now. More than that, typical narrow alleys with mud brick houses in Tho Ha make the village very unique. Van village connects with Tho Ha by a small dyke and newly constructed road, which is only 1km away. The village is famous for wine making and traditional festivals. Every two years, on 12th, 13th and 14th of April, Vietnamese lunar calendar, the visitors have a unique chance to attend the “Mud Ball Westling Festival” in Van village, paying tribute to the Sun.
Dinh (Temple) in Tho Ha Village
Rice paper drying
Making banh da, the traditional rice paper
Where the game takes place
Man and his rooster
Young people from Van Village preparing for the "lion dance" (múa lân)
Young people from Van Village performing the "lion dance" (múa lân) in a narrow alley
Participants changing their clothes in an ancient house of the village
200 journalist were invited to cover the event! Here the prayer before the game
16 participants will play during 3 hours, paying tribute to the sun represented by a very old and heavy (20 kg) ball
