Opening the Song Mun Festival, Quang Ninh honors the heritage of the Dao ethnic group.

Quang Ninh - At the Song Mun Festival 2025 in Hai Ha district, a ceremony was held to receive the decision recognizing the "Initiation Ceremony of the Thanh Y Dao People" as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Playing the pandan leaf trumpet. Photo: Hai Ha City Portal.

On the morning of March 1st, Hai Ha district organized the 2025 Song Mun Festival in Quang Duc commune - a border locality where over 95% of the population are Thanh Y Dao people.

At the ceremony, leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Quang Ninh province presented the decision of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognizing "Social customs and beliefs of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony of the Thanh Y Dao people" into the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

This decision was granted to localities where the Dao Thanh Y ethnic community lives, including: Ha Long, Uong Bi, Ba Che, Tien Yen, Binh Lieu, Dam Ha, Hai Ha, and Mong Cai.

Localities in Quang Ninh province where the Thanh Y Dao ethnic community lives have received a decision from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognizing the "Social customs and beliefs of the Thanh Y Dao people's coming-of-age ceremony" as a national intangible cultural heritage. Photo: Hai Ha Information Portal

The Song Mun Festival is a long-standing traditional event with significant meaning in the cultural and religious life of the Thanh Y Dao people. The festival takes place on the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month and on the 12th-13th days of the 7th lunar month every year in the villages of the Thanh Y Dao people in Hai Ha district.

Within the framework of the festival, many unique cultural activities are organized such as: the Song Mun ritual to pray for peace, the distribution of lucky items, hair-tying competitions, playing of pandan leaf horns, making pandan leaf cakes, handicraft embroidery, traditional food competitions and folk sports such as tug-of-war and stick pushing.

The festival also features traditional folk singing performances, a beauty contest showcasing Dao Thanh Y costumes, and stalls selling OCOP products and local specialties.

Source: https://laodong.vn/van-hoa/mo-hoi-song-mun-quang-ninh-vinh-danh-di-san-dan-toc-dao-1470537.ldo