Fishermen in Vinh Loi organize a fishing festival.

(GLO) - On the morning of May 26th (the 10th day of the 4th lunar month), fishermen from Vinh Loi coastal village (An Luong commune, Gia Lai province) held the 2026 Fishing Festival at the Vinh Loi Nam Hai Mausoleum (also known as the Ancestral Mausoleum).

The fishing festival in Vinh Loi fishing village is one of the largest and most spectacular festivals organized compared to many other coastal localities in Gia Lai , attracting a large number of fishermen from Vinh Loi 1, Vinh Loi 2, and Vinh Loi 3 villages, as well as tourists from all over.

The fishing festival in Vinh Loi coastal village was solemn and vibrant with colors. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan

This year's festival featured both solemn ceremonies and incredibly lively festivities. The main ceremony included rituals such as: visiting (inspecting the sarcophagi containing the remains of the whale), unveiling the Nguyen Dynasty's royal decree, welcoming the God of the South Sea from the sea into the temple within the Whale Mausoleum; the purification ceremony, the offering to the gods, the opening ceremony... accompanied by various folk performances such as the "ba trạo" singing and sword dances to express profound gratitude to the manifested God of the South Sea.

The ceremony of bestowing the royal title by the Nguyen Dynasty. Photo: Huynh Kim

A ceremony of offering sacrifices to the God of the South Sea to pray for national peace and prosperity. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan.

Sword dance performed in honor of the gods at the Vinh Loi Fishing Festival. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan .

The festival is enlivened by basket-spinning competitions, dragon boat races, blindfolded duck catching, sack racing, and traditional opera performances on the nights of the festival from May 26th to 30th (corresponding to the 10th to 14th day of the 4th lunar month).

The ceremony of welcoming the God of the South Sea into the temple includes a procession of fishing boats carrying the offerings from the sea to the shore. Photo: Dung Nhan

Dragon boat racing adds a lively atmosphere to the festival. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan

According to ancient tradition, every year the Vinh Loi lagoon area organizes two fishing festivals on the 10th day of the first lunar month (at the Great Whale Temple) and the 10th day of the fourth lunar month (at the Ancestral Temple) to worship the God of the South Sea (the Whale God), praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and for the safe voyages and bountiful catches of fish and shrimp for the fishermen's boats.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/ngu-dan-vinh-loi-to-chuc-le-hoi-cau-ngu-post588236.html