[Photo] Impressive Nghinh Ong Festival in Can Gio

The Nghinh Ong Can Gio Festival in 2025 will continue to be solemnly organized with many traditional rituals reflecting the unique cultural identity of the coastal region. This is an opportunity for the fishing community to honor the God of the South Sea - the deity who protects and blesses safe voyages at sea.

Taking place over three days, the Nghinh Ong Can Gio Festival 2025 is a unique folk cultural event that attracts a large number of local people and tourists.

The festival consists of two parts: the ceremony and the festivities. The ceremony is deeply spiritual, expressing reverence for the God of the South Sea – a deity revered by fishermen as the "Whale God" – while the festivities are vibrant with many traditional cultural and artistic activities.

This is not only an occasion to remember the deceased and summarize the past fishing season, but also a prayer for a successful and bountiful new fishing season.

The festival reflects the spiritual life of the coastal residents, affirming the historical and cultural value and strategic role of Can Gio in the cause of national defense and development. Within the festival space, propaganda content about maritime sovereignty , marine economic development, mangrove forest conservation, and the world biosphere reserve is presented in a vivid and visually engaging manner.

Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of the festival, the lion and dragon dance troupe appeared, enlivening the grand celebration of the fishermen of Can Gio. The drums and gongs resounded loudly, and the two dragons gracefully coiled in the streets of Can Gio commune, to the cheers of locals and tourists.

The Nghinh Ong Can Gio Festival originated around the year Quy Suu (1913) and has become a cultural and spiritual activity closely associated with the lives of fishermen in the coastal region. In 2013, the festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The procession departs from the Mausoleum of the Water God in Can Gio commune, Ho Chi Minh City, and proceeds to the Mechanical Engineering pier to begin the Nghinh Ong (Welcoming the Water God) journey at sea—the most sacred ritual of the festival.

The event attracted large crowds of locals and tourists from all over to the streets, joining in the festive atmosphere.

On each boat, the fishermen respectfully set up an offering with a pair of boiled ducks, sticky rice, and paper money to thank the sea and pray for safety on their voyages.

The boats, brightly decorated with colorful flags and banners, fluttered in the sea breeze, creating a vibrant and lively scene.

This is considered the "New Year of the coastal people," a day when fishermen go out to sea together in their boats, participating in rituals, gathering to eat and drink, and praying for a safe and prosperous new fishing season.

Amidst the festive atmosphere, people also enjoy cultural, sporting , and artistic activities that attract large numbers of locals and tourists.

This year's ceremonial part maintained its traditional solemnity with rituals such as visiting the Rung Sac Martyrs' Cemetery, offering incense at the Rung Sac-Can Gio Heroic Martyrs' Temple, and the Whale God worship ceremony. The festival part was lively with more than 40 diverse activities, including photo exhibitions, fishing gear displays, performances of traditional music and theater, puppet shows, folk games, and many sports tournaments and musical programs for locals and tourists.

And traditional folk games.

The Nghinh Ong Can Gio Festival 2025, taking place from October 5th to 8th, is the most distinctive cultural event of the fishermen of Ho Chi Minh City, deeply marked by traditional maritime beliefs.

VU BAO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/anh-an-tuong-le-hoi-nghinh-ong-can-gio-post914001.html