In the mountainous region of northern Vietnam, every spring, when the peach blossoms bloom and the sound of lion dance drums echoes throughout the villages, the Tay people begin preparing for the Long Tong Festival – one of their most important traditional festivals. This festival is not only an occasion to honor tradition and culture, but also a moment of harmony between people and nature, between the past and the present, presenting a colorful picture of the Tay people's spiritual life in the rhythm of modern life.
As the first rays of spring sunshine began to appear, crowds of people in colorful traditional costumes gathered in the open field of the village, where the Lồng Tông festival was taking place. From afar, the sounds of laughter, chatter, and joyful cheers from people flocking from all directions could be heard. The Lồng Tông festival began with solemn rituals, deeply rooted in the Tày people's religious beliefs and worship of deities. Village elders and leaders, dressed in traditional attire, respectfully offered gifts to heaven and earth, praying for a new year of favorable weather, abundant harvests, and a prosperous life. In that moment, the people felt a profound connection between humanity and nature, and with the vast universe.
The ritual of plowing the fields at the festival. Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper
After the solemn ceremony, the Lồng Tông festival transitions into a vibrant atmosphere of festivities, featuring folk games and exciting traditional cultural activities. The highlight of the festival is the "throwing the ball" game – an ancient folk game that not only requires skill and agility but also carries profound spiritual significance. The ball, made from colorful pieces of cloth, symbolizes abundance and good fortune. It is thrown through a circle on a tall pole, representing the connection between heaven and earth, between humans and deities. Cheers and shouts of encouragement resound continuously, creating a lively and colorful festival atmosphere.
Along with the traditional ball-throwing game, the Lồng Tông festival also attracts visitors with its unique traditional cultural performances. The Then dances, bamboo pole dances, accompanied by the sounds of the Tinh lute and Then songs echoing through the mountain forests, tell stories of the history, culture, and beliefs of the Tay people. Each dance and song contains profound cultural values, expressing the gratitude and respect of the Tay people for their ancestors and nature.
The festival featured many cultural exchange activities: Then singing, Tinh lute playing, and courtship singing. Photo: Binh Phuoc Newspaper
But the Lồng Tông festival is not only a place to show respect to the deities, but also an opportunity for the community to meet, bond, and share joy and solidarity. In the festive atmosphere, people enjoy traditional dishes such as five-colored sticky rice, black banh chung (rice cakes), smoked buffalo meat, and raise glasses of rice wine together, wishing each other a peaceful and happy new year. These moments, though simple, contain sincere and warm feelings, serving as a bond connecting members of the community, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Tay people.
In the modern era, where many traditional cultural values are gradually fading, the Lồng Tông festival retains its vibrant energy, serving as a place where the Tay people entrust their faith, hope, and love for their homeland. The festival is not only a part of the national cultural heritage but also a symbol of the Tay people's enduring strength and pride in the face of modern challenges. Looking back, the Lồng Tông festival is not simply a festival, but a vivid expression of culture, a mirror reflecting the soul and way of life of the Tay people. Amidst the continuous development of society, the Lồng Tông festival remains a place where the Tay people return to rediscover their roots, to connect the past with the present, and to maintain the lifeblood of their traditional culture through generations.
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