Early spring is when annual festivals and events take places across coastal villages of Da Nang. With the numbers of festivals increasing on a yearly basis, and others growing in size at an incredible rate, festivals are a vibrant display of the local culture and traditions, thereby attracting a large number of locals and tourists.

The ‘Cau Ngu’ (Fish Worshipping) Festival took place on the beach in Man Thai Ward, Son Tra District, in 2023. Photo: K.H

Promoting community connections and neighborly solidarity among residents

The ‘Cau Ngu’ (Fish Worshipping) Festival is not only coastal fishermen’s expression of beliefs that strengthens the believer's relationship with the Gods of the Sea and the Whale, but also showcases local cultural identity, according to cultural researchers. This is an opportunity for fishermen to encourage each other to stick to the sea, helping them get closer, strengthen solidarity, and join efforts to develop meaningful cultural activities.

Before, during and after the 'Cau Ngu' Festival, coastal fishermen across the city play their part in ensuring the security and social order, as well as cleaning up Nguyen Tat Thanh, Man Thai, and Nam O beaches while they are active in display the national flag and festival flag during the festival. At the same time, they also participate in a procession of the Whale God to the festival’s main ritual stage in order to pray for peace and prosperity throughout the year, as well take part in other traditional festive activities.

The annual 'Cau Ngu' Festival includes folk music, rituals and activities that reflect the cultural identity of Da Nang, and Central Viet Nam as a whole. The main traditional ritual is accompanied by ‘Ba Trao’ (dancing and singing local traditional folk songs) performances to honour the merits and virtues of the whale, and to show the local fishermen's strong desire for peaceful offshore fishing trips, with bumper catches. The festival helps foster the solidarity and neighbourhood attachment within local communities.

Preserving traditional festival culture

The annual ''Cau Ngu' Festival is elaborately organized with a wide range of exciting events across coastal fishing villages of the city in efforts to promote the value of this special festival which has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, to domestic and international tourists.

The annual ''Cau Ngu' Festival aims to pay a heartfelt tribute to ancestors, as well as to express gratitude for the many favors that mother nature has already bestowed upon coastal residents. That's why, every year, after the Lunar New Year, residents of Thanh Khe District are excited for this exciting festival. The annual event for fishermen takes places across coastal villages in Xuan Ha and Thanh Loc Dan wards in Thanh Khe District, Man Thai and Tho Quang wards in Son Tra District, along with the Nam O village in Lien Chieu District, from the first to third lunar months.

The ‘Cau Ngu’ Festival offers a unique insight into Da Nang’s rich culture, and it is part of the spiritual life of coastal communities in the city, and Central Viet Nam as a whole.

The festival also offers an opportunity for the district’s fishermen to pray for a safe season at sea, and a bumper catch.

The organization of this festival demonstrates great efforts of authorities at local level and local residents in preserving and promoting local cultural heritage. At the same time, it is an authentic evidence for physical behaviours and spiritual practices towards Viet Nam’s sea and islands among Da Nang’s residents, especially fishermen.

Thanh Khe District People's Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Huu Cong highlighted huge efforts the district’s authorities and local residents have made to renew the 'Cau Ngu' Festival in a bid to preserve and promote local cultural identity, contributing to promoting the development of the city’s tourism industry, especially spiritual culture.

The annual festival features many solemn rituals and exciting traditional festive activities. Specifically, the rituals include the procession of the Sea God, a funeral oration delivered to the God of Water, and traditional rituals to honour ancestors and to pray for peace and prosperity throughout the year.

Besides, the festive events include various exciting competitions such as fishing net knitting, tug-of-war, paragliding performance, motor surfing, and beach football, along with cultural activities like ‘Bai Choi’ (singing while acting as playing cards), and tuong (classic drama) performances. Besides, there are booths displaying typical products of the wards and products processed from seafood, and a documentary exhibition entitled "Hoang Sa belongs to Viet Nam".

Moreover, Communal House Festival, which annually takes place on the 10^th day of the third lunar month to celebrate the dead anniversary of the Hung Kings is held in such places as Hai Chau, Tuy Loan, and Hoa My. The festival is annual large-scale event that attracts a large number of local people and tourists. It aims to keep important cultural events which are part of the spiritual life of local people, as well as promote and preserve local cultural identity, satisfy the cultural and spiritual needs of local communities. In addition, the intention is to educate young people about being grateful and expressing gratitude towards their ancestors, thereby contributing to promoting culture and tourism of Da Nang, in an attempt to attract more tourists to the city.

The Muc Dong Festival was held regularly until 1936, in the reign of Emperor Bao Dai.  Then, after a 70-year absence, it was revived in 2007 in Phong Nam Village, Hoa Vang District, and it was last held on 29 and 30 March 2013.

The festival’s cultural vestiges, including the Dong hamlet and the Muc Dong temple, play a vital role in the spiritual life of local residents.  The event honours the children who tend the water buffalos, and it is one of the city’s most important festivals. When the city creates a strategy to promote the development of cultural tourism, it is necessary for it to adopt effective policies and solutions to preserve, restore and promote these festivals to become a product contributing to cultural development.

With great efforts of authorities at local level and residents in Da Nang, the annual festivals in Da Nang will be preserved and promoted in contemporary life.

Reporting by KHANH HOA – Translating by H.L