Following the great success of previous years, this year, the Hai Chau village communal house festival is being held on April 26 and 27 with many festival activities to celebrate the major holidays of the country and the city in particular, heading towards the Hung Kings' Temple Festival, which is annually observed on 10^th day of the third lunar month.

Da Nang Party Committee Deputy Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet offers incense at the Hai Chau village communal house. Photo: X.D

Also, the event also helps contribute to promoting the cultural values and human strengths of Da Nang in the cause of municipal construction and development, and improve the quality of promoting typical cultural forms in Hai Chau District.

Similar to previous years, this year's festival features solemnly-held rituals, showing high respect and gratitude to the blessed gods, predecessors who joined the establishment of hamlets, developed production, passed down crafts onto descendants.

The festival part features exciting cultural and sports activities that are rich in national identity such as lion dance, releasing pigeons to pray for national peace, a drawing contest and a painting exhibition entitled ‘I love my homeland’, a singing contest, folk dance, tug of war, stick push, relay sack jump and playing chess.

Hai Chau village communal house festival is an important cultural activity in the spiritual life of the local people, helping preserve and transmit culture between generations, create conditions for people to participate in creativity and enjoy cultural values, and at the same time contribute to promoting tourism in Hai Chau District, and in the city as a whole.

The Hai Chau communal house, located in residential group No. 6, Hai Chau Ward No.1,  is considered to be the oldest communal house in Da Nang, recognised as a national historical-cultural relic site in 2001. Currently, the site still preserves many artifacts painted with gilded vermilion, dating back hundreds of years.

Delegates perform a ritual to release pigeons to pray for national peace and prosperity. Photo: X.D

The main ceremony is solemnly performed by the elders and the ceremonial team. Photo: X.D

The traditional rituals express great gratitude to the blessed gods and predecessors who made meritorious services to the building of the former Hai Chau village. Photo: X.D

Children from a local kindergarten visit the painting exhibition entitled ‘I love my homeland’. Photo: X.D

The tug of war competition at the festival attracts a large number of locals and visitors. Photo: X.D

Hai Chau communal house festival is an important cultural activity in the spiritual life of local people for generations. Photo: X.D

Reporting by XUAN DUNG  - Translating by A.THU