Dien Bien, Dec. 20 -- The ninth Vietnam-Laos-China "con" throwing festival is underway in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, aiming to preserve traditional culture while promoting cross-border solidarity and mutual understanding among the three countries. A con is a colourful fabric ball thrown at a bamboo hoop as part of a folk game traditionally played during festivals and New Year holidays by Thai ethnic communities. The game has been adopted by people living in border areas of Vietnam, Laos and China. The festival aims to strengthen solidarity, friendship and expand cooperation and people-to-people exchange between the three countries' border localities. It offers border localities from the three countries the chance to s...