Local Interest
DONG TIEN FESTIVAL 5th February 2017
Dong Tien Festival takes place annually on the 9th day of Lunar New Year in Ham Yen, Tuyen Quang province, Northern Vietnam. Dong Tien festival is held with a hope of a favourable new year, prosperity, good harvests for all. The Festival is also a valuable occasion to introduce traditional agricultural products of the locality.
Dong Tien is located in Thong Nhat Village 2, Yen Phu Commune, Ham Yen District. It is charming scenery with various interesting caves. Paying visit to such place, visitors will have chances to discover mystery and imposingness of forests, and to be told a moving love story between the seventh fairy and an orphan fellow. After the sightseeing of caves, visitors can enjoy special cultural activities provided by residents in Ham Yen District indicated in traditional sacrifice customs, and passionate pan-pipe tune made by H’ Mong people. In addition, they can also wallow in glistening candle light in“ Street Gala Dinner” or folk games such as tug of war, strong and impressive buffalo competition, etc.
CAU NGU FESTIVAL 8th February 2017
The traditional festival Cau Ngu is unique and imbrued with the cultural identity of coastal community. The fishermen here consider the whale, a giant yet nice creature, as the companion of seafarers in their voyages, on the vast ocean full of danger. To these people ' s mind, the whale is not just a normal kind of mammal, but Sir Nam Hai-they are sanctified.
The village where the whales’ bodies drifted onto the beach, build up a temple to properly venerate them, called Nam Hai Whale Temple( Lang Ong Nam Hai). That is the origin of Cau Ngu, a festival that has gone through a long history and become an important spiritual activity.
The festival starts with solemn ritual ceremonies, in which elders hold a palanquin procession from villages to villages, displaying fishermen’ s union and expressing gratitude towards their ancestors and guardians. According to fishermen’ s belief, if they put much thought into the rituals, celebrate them with huge reverence, they will be guaranteed a life with safe and sound sea journeys, great fishing results, and full of wealth and comfort.
Apart from the worshipping ceremony, Cau Ngu is about vibrant traditional games which well presents culture in the central coast of Vietnam, including fish-catching, net-casting, and raw fish games. Music is also an indispensable part of the festival, with“ Boi” singing is performed.
22 The MAG Vung Tau