The religious beauty of the Chinese community in Ca Mau.

Thien Hau Palace: A unique religious architectural relic of the Chinese community in Bac Lieu.
The unique characteristics of the worship of Thien Hau Goddess in Ca Mau.
Preserving and promoting the Thien Hau Goddess Festival in conjunction with tourism in Ca Mau.

In Ca Mau, the Thien Hau Temple is built in many places such as An Xuyen ward and the communes of Song Doc, Cai Nuoc, and Thoi Binh.

Among them, the Thien Hau Holy Mother Temple in Hamlet 2, An Xuyen Ward (commonly known as Ba Temple) is the most well-known. This temple has a history of over 200 years, closely associated with the pioneering and settlement process of the Chinese community in the Southwestern region of Vietnam.

Mr. Tran Que Dinh (second from the left), President of the An Xuyen Ward Chinese Mutual Aid Association, along with other members of the Association, light incense to pay respects to the Goddess Thien Hau.

On the morning of May 9th (23rd day of the 3rd lunar month), a large number of locals and tourists from many places gathered at the Thien Hau Temple to attend the Thien Hau Festival.

Mr. Tran Que Dinh, Chairman of the An Xuyen Ward Chinese Mutual Aid Association, said: “The belief in worshipping the Goddess Thien Hau was brought by the Chinese during their migration to Vietnam. They believe that she is a goddess who protects seafarers, rescues ships in distress, and blesses them with peaceful lives and prosperous businesses. Therefore, on the day of her festival, people come to pray with reverence, hoping for family peace, successful work, and a prosperous life.”

From early morning, a large number of people came to attend the Thien Hau Goddess Festival.

According to the temple's management board, the most important ritual is the bathing and changing of the statue of the Goddess, followed by offering incense to pray for national peace and prosperity.

One of the distinctive features of the festival is the tradition of burning incense to pray for peace, which lasts for many days and nights. Locals believe that the rising smoke from the incense is a way of conveying their prayers to the deities.

Ms. Tu Muoi, from Hamlet 18, An Xuyen Ward, shared: “Out of reverence, every year on the anniversary of the Goddess's birth, my family comes to offer fruits, incense, and candles to the Goddess, praying for good health, peace, and success in all endeavors for all family members.”

People come to offer incense before the shrine of Lady Thien Hau, praying for health, peace, and success in their work.

The custom of drawing fortune slips on the day of the Goddess Thien Hau's festival.

Beyond its spiritual significance, the Thien Hau Goddess Festival in Ca Mau also contributes to preserving the traditional cultural values of the local Chinese community.

Over generations, the Lady of the Sea festival has been maintained and developed as a symbol of community cohesion, mutual support, and cultural exchange between the Chinese and other ethnic groups in the area.

The Thien Hau Goddess Festival has also become a cultural tourism highlight of Ca Mau, attracting a large number of tourists from inside and outside the province to worship and learn about the religious life of the local people.