Discover the traditional stream fishing festival of Lo Son commune

Every March of the lunar calendar, the crystal clear Tlo stream becomes bustling with the traditional stream fishing festival of Lo Son commune, Tan Lac district. The festival is not only an occasion for community entertainment, but also a spiritual and cultural event, strongly expressing the typical agricultural beliefs of the Muong people here.

The traditional stream fishing festival in Lo Son commune, Tan Lac district is held annually and attracts a large number of locals and tourists.

Early in the morning of March 23, At Ty year, Mrs. Bui Thi Huong, 68 years old, and many people from Tan Lap hamlet in traditional Muong ethnic costumes appeared on the main stage to attend the traditional stream fishing festival in 2025. Mrs. Huong is a Muong ethnic, born and raised in Tan Lap hamlet. She said: When I was young, the festival was not organized with much excitement but was very solemn. In the past, right after the rice planting season, the villagers went down to the stream to fish together. Without the ceremony, people would not feel secure to do business.

According to legend, in ancient times, when the land was just born and the village had not yet become a village, in the area there was a family consisting of a husband and wife and a son who had the talent to reclaim wasteland, build dams, dig canals to expand the village, teach the people how to grow rice, and fish (it is said that he/she was the one who taught the Muong people how to make water wheels to get water from the stream to the fields). To remember their merits, later the people in the area honored these 3 people as Thanh Hoang and built a temple to worship them. In the past, the offerings, in addition to sticky rice and wine, must include the 5 biggest fish caught. The shaman on behalf of the whole Muong people performed a ceremony to praise the merits of the Thanh Hoang, praying for a year of good health for the people, a good harvest, and a bountiful harvest...

Together with the locals and tourists, we immersed ourselves in the festival atmosphere. The ceremony took place at the shrine with the ritual of offering offerings, including sticky rice, wine, and especially the five largest fish caught during the festival. The shaman representing the villagers performed the ceremony, praying to the village guardian spirits for favorable weather and good crops. After the ceremony was the exciting festival. Young and strong Muong men competed in casting nets, fishing, and raft rowing, attracting a large crowd of spectators to cheer and encourage them.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a tourist from Hanoi, excitedly participated in the festival for the first time: The festival is very unique and meaningful. In addition to enjoying dance and singing performances imbued with the Muong ethnic identity, we also learned about stream fishing techniques, this feeling is very different from festivals in the city.

In recent years, the festival has been expanded with sports , combined with introducing cuisine and typical products of the Muong people in the hamlets: Ui, Nghe, Chieng Doi, Tan Lap, Doi Be, Da such as rice wine, bamboo rice, grilled meat, fish, steamed stream crabs... creating an attractive cultural - tourist space.

Comrade Bui Xuan Truong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lo Son commune, shared: We consider this a valuable intangible cultural heritage, not only to preserve but also to promote. In 2011, the festival was officially restored, and has been held annually since then. This year, under the direction of the district, the commune organized the festival on a larger scale, with the participation of agencies and organizations. Not only a festival, the event also carries the message of protecting the environment and preserving the natural ecosystem. The local government coordinates with cultural and media organizations to propagate people not to overfish, to use environmentally friendly methods to preserve valuable aquatic resources. The festival is also an opportunity to unite the community, to arouse the spirit of solidarity in building a new cultural life. For tourists, this is an opportunity to explore the unique Muong culture that has remained intact over time.

Amidst the modern pace of life, the traditional stream fishing festival of Lo Son commune brings people back to nature. It is not only a festival of the Muong people but also a part of Vietnamese culture, a space for people to find their roots.

Huong Lan

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/16/200969/Kham-pha-Le-hoi-danh-ca-suoi-truyen-thong-xa-Lo-Son.htm