The festival is also gradually becoming a unique tourism product, contributing to promoting the local image during the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026.
The unique identity of Nhon Hai
From the beginning of the second lunar month, the atmosphere in Nhon Hai (comprising three neighborhoods: Hai Bac, Hai Dong, and Hai Nam) has become bustling. Colorful flags and banners are hung in the Nam Hai Ancestral Temple and along the beach, and boats are decorated.
The villagers, from the elders to the young, had been eagerly awaiting the fishing festival for ten to fifteen days beforehand.
Like other coastal regions, the Nhon Hai fishing festival is associated with the worship of whales (Ông Cá, the God of the South Sea) - a sea deity that fishermen believe always protects and saves them at sea. Therefore, the ceremonial part is organized solemnly with traditional rituals.
Mr. Nguyen Khac Vu, head of the Nhon Hai lagoon area, said: "Fishermen are deeply connected to the sea, and the fishing festival is organized annually by the entire local community. This is not only an opportunity to express gratitude to the God of the South Sea and the ancestors who founded this land, but also to remind future generations of their traditional culture."
A unique feature of the Nhon Hai fishing festival is that, in addition to the familiar boat dance reenacting the fishermen's journey through the stormy seas, it also preserves a rare form of performance not found elsewhere: the art of sword dance in honor of the gods.
This is not simply a performance but carries a ritualistic meaning, expressing reverence for the God of the South Sea and a desire for blessings and protection.
The art of sword dance performed in honor of the gods in Nhon Hai is a unique culmination of many cultural elements. The sword dance troupe consists of 33 people, with the main characters including: 1 chief attendant, 2 lantern bearers, 2 tiger costumes, 4 staffs (whips), 4 swords, and 20 swordsmen, divided into two sides, blue and red.
The performers are dressed in costumes reminiscent of Binh Dinh's traditional opera, with sharp facial features and vibrant colors. The characters' performances are a blend of opera dance and traditional martial arts.
The intermingling of folk beliefs, traditional opera, and Binh Dinh martial arts has contributed to the unique cultural depth of the Nhon Hai fishing festival.
Having been involved with the sword dance troupe for 22 years, Nguyen Van Tinh - who plays the role of the tiger - shared: "The sword dance in honor of the gods is not just a performance for the audience, but more importantly, it's about expressing the spirit of the army serving the gods at the midnight sacrificial ceremony."
"The movements must be both beautiful and precise, while also conveying the solemnity of the ceremony. It takes a great deal of effort to achieve this, but anyone who gets to be part of this team feels extremely proud!"
Creating tourism products aimed at elevating the status of heritage sites.
This year, the Nhon Hai fishing festival is being held on a larger scale, incorporating cultural, sports , and tourism activities to attract visitors. Mr. Nguyen Binh Nguyen (Hai Dong neighborhood) shared: "The Nhon Hai fishing festival is considered the 'second Tet' (Lunar New Year) in the locality."
"In particular, this year the weather at sea is very beautiful, and the festival starts on Sunday, March 29th, right after the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026 held in Quy Nhon ward on the evening of March 28th. This timing is truly beautiful, and perhaps because of that, we will see even more tourists coming to celebrate with the people of Nhon Hai."
As part of this year's festival, Quy Nhon Dong ward organized a series of exciting activities such as boat racing, coracle swimming, tug-of-war, football, and traditional opera performances. These activities not only created a joyful atmosphere but also gave visitors the opportunity to experience the cultural life of the sea.
Mr. Bui Duy Ninh, Vice Chairman of the Quy Nhon Dong Ward People's Committee, said: "The Nhon Hai fishing festival is not only a religious activity of fishermen but also a valuable cultural heritage."
In response to the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026, this year's festival has received more attention in its preparation and organization, aiming to ensure its successful execution in order to preserve and promote the value of the heritage and create unique tourism products for the locality.”
According to Mr. Ninh, the Provincial People's Committee has also issued a directive instructing Quy Nhon Dong ward to coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to prepare a dossier requesting the recognition of the Nhon Hai Fishing Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is considered an important step towards sustainable preservation and enhancement of the heritage's value.
"The proposal to recognize the Nhon Hai Fishing Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in the near future is not only significant in terms of the title but also creates conditions for better protection and transmission of folk performing arts in the festival, especially the sword dance and boat dance," Mr. Ninh further shared.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nhon-hai-va-net-van-hoa-bien-dac-sac-post583376.html
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