The Hai Chau Village Communal House Festival 2018 took place in Da Nang’s Hai Chau District from 11-14 April (the 26^th - 29^th day of the 2^nd lunar month).

A solemn ritual at the festival (Photo: danang.gov.vn)

The 4-day event featured a number of solemn rituals to honour ancestors, and to preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural identity.

In addition, a wide range of exciting cultural activities were held during the festival. Included were water puppet shows, ‘bai choi’ (singing while acting as playing cards) performances, tug-of-war competition, and rod-pushing contest.

This fascinating festival attracted a large number of locals and visitors.

Since 2009, the Hai Chau Village Communal House Festival has been held in Da Nang annually, with an aim to make the event a special and attractive tourism product bearing the city’s cultural identity in order to attract more visitors.

To date, a large number of artifacts, and horizontal lacquered boards engraved with Chinese characters dating hundreds of years, are being kept at the Hai Chau Village Communal House. Included are the horizontal lacquered boards engraved with Chinese characters entitled ‘Van Co Anh Linh’ dating from the 17^th year of emperor Gia Long’s reign, and a stone stele named ‘Hoi Tap Thien Hai Chau’ dating back to the 14^th year of emperor Tu Duc’s reign.