The 2015 Quan The Am (Avalokitecvara) Festival will run from 5 - 7 April (the 17^th - 19^th days of the 2^nd lunar month) at Ngu Hanh Son District's Quan The Am (Avalokitecvara) Pagoda in the Marble Mountains Tourist Area.

On the 1^st day of the festival, there will be a photo exhibition about the Marble Mountains, a “bai choi” performance (singing while acting as playing cards), a fine arts exhibition about calligraphy and tea meditation, and the plaiting of flowers and leaves by artisans from Thailand.

Between 7pm and 10pm on the same day, after a drumming ceremony, local Buddhist followers and visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a painting performance entitled “Bach Lien Ngu Hanh Khai Hoi - Tram Hoa Sen Nam Mau Mo Hoi”, and a musical programme.  In addition, there will be a poetry and music exchange, the floating of flower garlands and coloured lanterns, and other events.

The 2014 Quan The Am festival attracting a large number of visitors

The following day will feature a prayer ceremony for Theravada Buddhists at the main stage of the Da (Stone) Pagoda at the Quan The Am Pagoda. 

On the final day of the festival, a number of solemn Buddhist rituals will take place, including the traditional offerings and preaching sessions, and the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Statue procession.  After that, visitors will be immersed in the ebullient atmosphere of a traditional boat race on the Co Co River, and other cultural activities.

According to the festival’s organisers, the city’s police, border guard and military forces, along with fire-fighters and medical workers will be assigned to duty at the Quan The Am Pagoda to ensure social security, fire fighting and fire prevention, food hygiene and safety, environmental hygiene and trade civilisation during the festival.

The Vice Chairman of the Ngu Hanh Son District People’s Committee, Mr Nguyen Dinh Thu, said that the festival’s organisers are making every effort to ensure that no robbery, no pickpocket, no itinerant beggars and no wandering vendors are at the event.  In addition, strong measures will be taken to stop littering, tourist harassment, the increase in parking fees, the illegal trade in fish and birds for release, the burning of votive papers, and the distribution of illegal documents.