Speaking at a press conference on the event on April 14, Nguyen Tri Long, deputy director of the department, said that the Ninh Thuan Grape and Wine Festival was organised every two years to promote the local grape brand and honour the culture of ethnic minority groups.
A grape garden in Ninh Thuan
This year will mark the biggest event so far. The locality will also organise a ceremony to receive UNESCO certification recognising the pottery-making art of the Cham ethnic people as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
The festival will offer a range of activities, including a seminar where grape growers, businesses, scientists and wine producers will exchange experience on developing the value of grape vines and grape products. Other activities include a cycling race, an off-road car and motorcycle race on sand dunes, visits to vineyards, Bau Truc pottery village and the world biosphere reserve Nui Chua National Park, and a street music show.
Visitors can join trips to see local vineyards, Bau Truc pottery village, My Nghiep brocade village and Nui Chua biosphere.
Truong Khac Tri, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said grapes were Ninh Thuan’s fourth most valuable agri-product.
The province is now home to 1,060 hectares of grapes and the figure would reach 2,000 by 2030.
Tri added that in the coming time, the department will assist farmers in applying new technologies in growing new grape varieties.
Nguyen Van Hoa, director of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the grape festival was expected to help the province in attracting some 2.7 million tourists this year.
