Religion and ethnicity go hand in hand with Ho Chi Minh City - Part 3: Preserving the national spirit, spreading culture.

In the midst of modern life, Ho Chi Minh City still preserves its traditional culture through numerous festivals, religious customs, and ethnic traditions. From the Lantern Festival in Cho Lon and the Nghinh Ong Festival in Can Gio to the Buddha's Birthday and Christmas celebrations, each festival becomes a cultural bridge, connecting the community.

Cultural bridges

Late in the afternoon at Ong Bon Pagoda (Cho Lon Ward), Uncle Nguyen quietly guided visitors who came to offer incense. He smiled gently: "I don't know the full meaning of the ritual, I only know that the Lantern Festival has long been a great joyous occasion, not only for us Chinese but also for Vietnamese, Cham, and Khmer people... Anyone who wants to can come, light incense, admire the lanterns, watch the lion dance, and watch the traditional opera."

The Lantern Festival, held annually on the 15th day of the first lunar month, is one of the most distinctive traditional festivals, attracting a large number of locals and tourists. Photo: HOANG HUNG

In Uncle Nguyen's memory, the Lantern Festival in Cholon was like a "second New Year" for the Chinese, lasting from the 15th day of the first lunar month, bustling with customs, rituals, and even the strictness of old traditions. People came to pray for peace for themselves, health for their children, and prosperity for their families. This is also a common wish of all ethnic groups. Therefore, the Lantern Festival has transcended the boundaries of a single community, becoming a cultural event of Ho Chi Minh City. In Cholon, every year on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the streets are brightly lit with lanterns, lion and dragon dance troupes follow one another, and the lively sound of drums blends with the laughter and chatter of people. This scene not only evokes the traditions of their Chinese ancestors but also connects generations of residents, regardless of whether they are Kinh or Chinese, of any religion or ethnicity.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Organizing Committee for Major Festivals, in recent years, the Lantern Festival has attracted tens of thousands of locals and tourists. The street art parade alone features 1,200-1,500 performers and participants, along with thousands of people lining the streets to cheer. Religious rituals, calligraphy demonstrations, lantern exhibitions, traditional opera, and musical performances revive ancient customs while transforming them into unique cultural products of this vibrant and dynamic city.

The Chinese call the Lantern Festival the "second New Year," a way of closing out spring, but in Ho Chi Minh City, it's also a day of reunion, sharing, and integration. Each red lantern illuminates not only the streets of Cholon but also the solidarity of a vibrant city. Beyond the Lantern Festival, Ho Chi Minh City's identity is enriched by the unique festivals and customs of many communities. For the Khmer people in the city, the Chôl Chnăm Thmây festival brings a bustling atmosphere to temples, with drums and music echoing throughout the neighborhoods. The Cham people in Phu Nhuan still preserve the Katê ritual, the sounds of Paranưng and Saranai drums resonating in a modern setting, reminding them of their roots. The Kinh people join in the Nghinh Ông Festival in Can Gio, where fishermen pray for favorable weather and also a time for reunion and sharing after a year at sea. Each festival and custom has its own unique character, but all share a common meaning: nurturing identity and uniting communities.

Religious festivals, a symphony of unity.