“Doan Ngo Festival”, also called “Tet giet sau bo” (translated as Parasite-killing Festival) is another one of Viet Nam ’s significant festivals.

So what do the names mean?  Translated literally, “Tet” refers to “festival”, “Doan” means “the start”, and “Ngo” is the seventh animal of the Chinese zodiac – the horse.  Also known as “Tet sau bo” (sau bo = worms, pests), the festival is celebrated on the 5^th day of the 5^th lunar month.  This festival is usually celebrated midway through the year when the weather conditions are shifting from spring to summer.  Tet Doan Ngo is actually a worship event, meant to ward away illness and evil spirits.

The name “Tet sau bo” is derived from the fact that, on this day, farmers eradicate all pests and start growing their crops for the new season. Therefore, creatures and people must become stronger in both their health and their souls in order to overcome this.  On the day of the Tet Doan Ngo festival, everyone in the family, whether young or old, has to get up early in the morning and eat fermented sticky rice and fruit.  The worshipping is held at noon, the hour of Ngo.  The tradition of eating dumplings, especially lye water dumplings, comes from the belief that the dumplings will cleanse one’s body of any unwanted parasites.

Two irreplaceable dishes

The two traditional types of food to be eaten on this holiday are “banh u tro” and “com ruou”.  “Banh u tro” are pyramid-shaped sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves. They are often stuffed with beans and banana leaf essence, which creates their dominant flavour.  “Com ruou”, which literally translates as “rice wine”, are little balls of fermented rice soaked in rice wine.  To make the wine, the sticky rice is boiled and, after it cools, it is mixed with brewer’s yeast. Fermented for two or three days, it becomes a sweet, thick liquid.  “Com ruou” is eaten early on this day to kill the “worms” in one’s stomach.

"Banh u tro"

If you try it, you will find that “Com ruou” has a strong and quite delicious taste. It is the Vietnamese traditional belief that wine kills all parasites in the body. Vietnamese people, from adults to children, love to eat “com ruou”, and adults are more likely to benefit from its curative effect if they add a grain of salt.

"Com ruou"

During the festival, as well as the worshipping ceremonies in every local person’s house and at religious common places, entertainment is also provided in public areas.  The festival invites everyone to leave his or her home and go to pagodas, beaches or other beautiful places, in order to benefit from the fresh air for a better spiritual and physical life.

In addition to the Lunar New Year Holiday, Doan Ngo Festival plays a significant role in every Vietnamese’s life, carrying with it practical and holy meanings.  If you come to enjoy the atmosphere of Doan Ngo Festival, you will get to know more about its value and spirits.