"Experience" the culture of the islands through the fishing festival of Cu Lao Cham.

VHO - Taking place over two days, May 19-20, at the Ông Ngư shrine in Cù Lao Chàm, the Tân Hiệp 2026 fishing festival is not only a long-standing belief of the coastal residents but also a journey for tourists to touch the original values ​​that are still present in the community life of this remote island.

The Tan Hiep Fishing Festival 2026 will take place over two days, May 19-20.

The Fishing Festival at Ông Ngư Temple is one of the most sacred and largest-scale festivals on Cù Lao Chàm Island (Tân Hiệp commune, Da Nang city), organized by the local community and fishermen on the 3rd and 4th days of the 4th lunar month every year to express gratitude and pray to the God of the South Sea and other sea deities for blessings and protection, ensuring safe fishing and abundant catches.

On the morning of May 19th, the festival began with a procession to welcome the deities at historical sites throughout the island commune.

In 2026, the festival will take place on May 19-20 with traditional rituals and cultural activities that demonstrate the spirit of community cohesion in the area.

The festival begins on May 19th with the procession of deities at historical sites throughout the commune.

The festival begins on the morning of May 19th with the procession of the deities at historical sites throughout the commune. Amidst the drums, gongs, and vibrant colors of the procession, the people together perform the ritual of welcoming the deities to the ceremony, expressing their hope for a peaceful, prosperous, and abundant fishing season.

The elders and local people all participate in the procession to welcome the deity.

Following that journey is the ritual of welcoming the deity into the temple, which takes place at the national historical site of Ông Ngư Mausoleum, with moments of profound spiritual significance as the deity of the South Sea is escorted to the main ceremonial site.

The procession to welcome the deity includes the participation of local people.

From 11:00 to 11:30 on May 19th, the traditional offering ceremony was held in the solemn atmosphere of the Ông Ngư mausoleum, expressing gratitude to the ancestors and deities who protect the fishermen of the coastal region.

The ceremonies were solemnly organized by the elders and local people according to traditional rituals.

The highlight that attracts community participation and many tourists is the "Ba Trao" singing performance in the festival space. This is a characteristic folk performance of the coastal people of Central Vietnam, combining singing, chanting, and rowing movements that simulate the journey of overcoming waves to go out to sea.

Preparing for the traditional boat dance performance.

With each powerful stroke of the oar, the synchronized shouts, and the rhythmic footsteps of the oarsmen, visitors can feel the spirit of unity, the aspiration to conquer the sea, and the faith of the people in the face of the vast ocean.

The "boatmen" perform songs, chants, and rowing movements that mimic the journey across the waves to the open sea.

The traditional folk singing performance, held on the evening of May 19th at the Ông Ngư shrine, attracted a large number of local people and tourists who came to enjoy the authentic local culture with its strong maritime and island flavor.

In the festival setting, the performance of the traditional folk art of "hat ba trao" (a type of folk singing) evokes many emotions in the viewers.

In harmony with the rhythm of the festival drums, the melodies of the "ba trao" folk songs resound, recounting the age-old stories of the coastal inhabitants – simple yet full of inner strength and emotion.

The Ancestor Worship Ceremony, the main fishing prayer ceremony, takes place on May 20th at the Ông Ngư (Fisherman's Shrine).

The ceremony honoring the spirits of the deceased took place on the morning of May 20th at the Ông Ngư mausoleum, reflecting the humane aspects of the spiritual life of the island's inhabitants.

Next is the Fishing Prayer Ceremony - the main and most important ritual of the fishing festival, where people respectfully pray for calm seas, abundant catches of shrimp and fish, and safe voyages at sea.

Tourists sketch and capture moments from the Fishing Festival.

The festival concludes with a tea party from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM on May 20th, a time for locals and visitors to gather and share joy after the sacred rituals amidst the peaceful seascape of the island.

Not overly boisterous or modern in its displays, the Tan Hiep Fishing Festival retains the pristine beauty of a traditional coastal community festival. From the rituals of welcoming the deities and the folk songs to the simple rhythm of life in the fishing village, everything creates a journey of "Returning to the Roots"—where maritime culture remains authentically present in every aspect of the islanders' lives.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/cham-van-hoa-bien-dao-qua-le-hoi-cau-ngu-cu-lao-cham-229808.html