Cau Ngu Festival in Ngu Loc commune

I returned to my hometown of Ngư Lộc commune, Hậu Lộc district, Thanh Hóa province during the second lunar month, and was truly impressed and moved to be immersed in the vibrant and sacred atmosphere of the 2025 Fishing Festival - a national intangible cultural heritage deeply rooted in the identity of the Diêm Phố coastal region.

The Fishing Festival in Ngu Loc commune - a sacred cultural beauty and a source of national cultural pride.

Traditional drum performance

From early morning, crowds flocked to the community cultural center. The sounds of drums, gongs, and lion dance music blended with the gentle murmur of the waves, creating a symphony that was both majestic and heartwarming. I not only felt the solemnity in each procession and incense offering ceremony, but also the profound faith and hope of each fisherman in the heavens, the sea, and the spirits. The images of elderly people praying, young men and women in their ceremonial attire, and the eager eyes of children... all left a beautiful impression on me of the love for the land, the sea, and the close bond between people amidst the vastness of nature.

The Fishing Festival in Ngu Loc commune - a sacred cultural beauty and a source of national cultural pride.

A large number of locals and tourists attended the festival.

The festivities following the ceremony were also lively with traditional folk games. More than just a time for reunion and fun, it was also an opportunity for the younger generation to better understand their homeland's traditions, the fishing industry, and the spirit of solidarity among the coastal communities.

The Fishing Festival in Ngu Loc commune is not merely a spiritual ritual or a celebratory event. For the people living in this remote coastal area, it is a great source of spiritual support. Every wave, every fishing trip carries inherent dangers, and therefore, the festival becomes an opportunity for people to express their hopes for peace, good fortune, and a bountiful harvest. Through the festival, fishermen are empowered and given renewed faith to confidently venture out to sea, dedicating their lives to the vast ocean.

In particular, the festival is also an opportunity for people to express gratitude to the deities – the supreme beings who, in the fishermen's minds, are companions and protectors in every tide. Besides that, it is also an occasion for descendants to remember the contributions of their ancestors who built the fishing village, maintained the fishing profession, and passed down precious values from generation to generation.

The Fishing Festival in Ngu Loc commune - a sacred cultural beauty and a source of national cultural pride.

From a broader perspective, the Cau Ngu Festival holds immense value for Vietnamese culture. Our country has a long coastline, with millions of people living off fishing and seafood harvesting. The Cau Ngu Festival is a microcosm of the spiritual life of coastal people throughout the country. It represents a harmonious blend of folk beliefs and practical work, creating a unique yet familiar aspect of Vietnamese culture.

For Thanh Hoa province in general and Ngu Loc - Hau Loc district in particular, the Cau Ngu Festival is a source of pride and a heritage that needs to be preserved and promoted in the right direction. It is not only a cultural activity but also a "thread" connecting generations, uniting the community, and promoting the image of the homeland to friends both domestically and internationally. With proper investment, the festival will become a unique tourism highlight, contributing to the development of the marine economy , preserving national identity, and spreading Vietnamese cultural values internationally.

More than just a festival, this is a place where sacred values of tradition converge, where people and the sea become one, where hearts are filled with faith and aspirations for the future. It is also an indispensable part of our nation's cultural heritage – a country that always cherishes its roots and honors the spiritual values of its ancestors.

The Fishing Festival in Ngu Loc commune - a sacred cultural beauty and a source of national cultural pride.

Bringing the Dragon Pearl

However, from the perspective of an attendee and observer, I also realize that for the Ngu Loc Fishing Festival to continue to spread strongly and develop its value sustainably, clear and synchronized directions are needed. For example, more investment is needed in the organization with professional and systematic preparation so that the festival is not only a local cultural activity but also becomes a typical cultural tourism product of Thanh Hoa province. More attention should be paid to planning the festival space, visitor reception points, and promotion through media. Strengthening traditional education for the younger generation, integrating experiential activities at the festival with school learning activities so that children understand and are proud of their homeland's culture, thereby proactively continuing to preserve and develop it. Encouraging the participation of the community and businesses in the preservation and promotion of the festival is also crucial. Socialization will help reduce the burden on the budget while creating a wider impact and shared responsibility in protecting heritage values. Besides preserving traditional identity, festivals should be supplemented with new, modern yet sophisticated elements to create appeal and richness, not only to attract tourists from all over the world but also to create a highlight on Vietnam's cultural tourism map.

...Leaving Ngu Loc after the festival, I carried with me beautiful images of the people, customs, and strong faith in this place at the forefront of the waves. Hopefully, with the joint efforts of the government, the people, and the attention of all levels, the Ngu Loc Fishing Festival will be further developed in the right direction, becoming an invaluable spiritual asset, "keeping the flame" of culture alive for generations to come.

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