Preserving and promoting the intangible cultural heritage of the Van Dam Xuong Ly Fishing Festival

The Van Dam Xuong Ly Fishing Festival (Nhon Ly Commune, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province) was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage at the end of 2024. It is being gradually preserved and promoted, becoming an important resource in sustainable tourism development, contributing to enriching the cultural identity and marine economy of Binh Dinh.

Van Dam Xuong Ly fishing festival.

The Van Dam Xuong Ly Fishing Festival is held annually on the 9th, 10th and 11th of the first lunar month. It is not only an occasion for fishermen to express their respect to the Whale - the sacred sea god, but also an activity to pray for a year of favorable weather, smooth sailing, full holds of seafood, and safe fishing. According to historical records and folk memories, this festival originated in the early 19th century, associated with the formation of Truong Lang in 1815, and was officially held in Vung Nom - Hung Luong lagoon since 1839.

This festival has been restored and reconstructed many times, especially after 2014, when the locality focused on fully restoring traditional rituals, organizing on a larger scale, connecting the community and expanding the cultural space. Artisan Dinh Van Quang, who has been involved in the festival for more than 30 years, shared: “The fishing festival at Van Dam Xuong Ly takes place according to traditional rituals. The ceremony is performed solemnly and respectfully, while the festival is lively and joyful with folk activities such as performing Ho Ba Trao, Hat Boi, rowing, rowing, playing Bai Choi... creating a bustling atmosphere at the beginning of the new year”.

Not only stopping at the aspect of belief, the fishing festival also contributes greatly to connecting the fishing community, reminding the tradition and morality of "drinking water, remembering its source", showing gratitude to the sea, the place that brings life to many generations. With the participation of many fishermen and tourists from near and far, the festival has become a typical cultural highlight, imbued with the identity of Binh Dinh's sea. Recognizing that great value, on December 10, 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially listed the Van Dam Xuong Ly Fishing Festival on the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Artisan Nguyen Kim Chuc, a member of the Van Dam Xuong Ly Management Board, shared that local people always believe that preserving the festival is not only to preserve a traditional ritual but also to preserve pride and cultural memories for future generations. “Currently, the Management Board is consolidating activities such as the rowing team, restoring fishing books, and researching traditional rituals to teach them systematically. We hope that all levels and sectors will continue to pay attention and support so that the festival can spread widely and live forever in the lives of fishermen,” said Mr. Chuc.

To preserve and promote the heritage value of the Van Dam Xuong Ly Fishing Festival, Vice Chairman of Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Tu Cong Hoang requested Quy Nhon City to proactively coordinate with the Department of Culture and Sports, and related sectors to carry out the task of master planning, detailed planning of the sacred space of the festival, especially the area of ​​the Nam Hai Ong Lang Van Dam Xuong Ly, Xuong Ly fishing wharf in particular, Van Dam Xuong Ly in general to ensure inheritance, ensure environmental and landscape criteria. At the same time, the provincial leaders also requested to promote the connection of the festival with tourism, creating favorable conditions for domestic and foreign delegations to participate, learn about cultural values, thereby creating resources for local socio -economic development. Honoring individuals and communities with many contributions to preserving, practicing, protecting and promoting the heritage value of the Van Dam Xuong Ly Fishing Festival.

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has approved the Project to Preserve and Promote the Value of the Van Dam Xuong Ly Fishing Festival (Nhon Ly Commune, Quy Nhon City) to serve tourism development associated with new rural construction. The tasks set out in the project include research and survey on the Van Dam Xuong Ly Fishing Festival, organizing training courses - teaching the community knowledge and skills to practice the heritage, organizing practice, performance, introducing part of the rituals in the festival, supporting the provision of tools, utensils, offerings... to practice the festival for the community, making films, photo sets and documents on the implementation of the project in the locality, serving the work of preserving and propagating, introducing the festival, and building a project result report.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/bao-ton-phat-huy-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-le-hoi-cau-ngu-van-dam-xuong-ly-10306690.html