Xa Ma Festival - Hoang Chau Procession is a prominent cultural event conducted in Hai Phong every year. The festival, which has been designated as a national intangible cultural treasure, serves as a platform for community-based activities focusing on spirituality and religious beliefs.

Xa Ma Festival - Hoang Chau Procession

Xa Ma Festival - Hoang Chau Communal House palanquin parade is conducted for three days beginning June 10 lunar calendar to remember the merits of Princess Lieu Hanh, the tutelary god, and forefathers who created the village and to pray for a year of favorable weather and abundant fish seasons. 

The Xa Ma Festival - Hoang Chau Procession is a type of community-based cultural activity centered on spirituality and religious beliefs that contributes to the community and societal cohesiveness. Throughout the festival, Hoang Chau people teach future generations about their forefathers' valuable traditions of patriotism and hard labor.

The event also serves as a repository for valuable historical facts, allowing researchers to delve further into the archives of numerous dynasties and notable historical personalities adored by locals.

Panorama of the Xa Ma Festival – Hoang Chau Procession

Festival activities

The event is divided into two parts: the ceremony and the festival.

The ceremony

The major sacrifice (Te Cao Yet) and the security sacrifice (Te An Vi) are the rituals of the ceremony. White sticky rice and local items must be included in the sacrifices. Tourists and locals can respectfully give incense and perform sacrifices in front of the tutelary god and forefathers' altars to pray for luck and peace.

Hundreds of visitors and locals attended the festival

The festival

The part of the festival is the ceremonials of the palanquin procession and Xa Ma. The procession of a palanquin is an activity imbued with unique and spiritual beliefs. The selected male and female mandarins participating in the procession at the village festival must be unmarried people, and the family has no funeral. When the sacred and sacred throne palanquins carried by young men and women to the courtyard of the communal house suddenly ran like flying over the courtyard and went around the village like a god manifesting.

One content that is considered a highlight, attracting the attention of people and tourists from all over the world is the Xa Ma, also known as the wooden horse-drawing contest, which recreates the training and exercises of the soldiers in the past. The competition usually has only two participating teams, Giap Dong and Giap Doai. According to the elderly in the village, the Xa Ma association has existed for over 300 years. 

Xa Ma is the festival's main attraction

The chariots are two sturdy, movable, and maneuverable wooden car racks. Each rack has 4 wooden wheels. On the carriage stand was a wooden war horse, a large, solid body, with a bridle, a flower bib, and a rattle around his neck. Each team has a number of 12 to 15 participants, with proper attire according to the regulations of the village festival. The members of the two teams wear neat uniforms, breeches, and blue or red ax-style scarves to distinguish each other. The commander holds a pennant of different colors to distinguish it from the opposing side.

The two wooden horses, carried by the youth skillful, rhythmic guy under the leadership of the commander, moved quickly around the courtyard at the behest of the moderator. As the Gongs appeared, the young men drew their horses into a tight circle around the community house. The armor that returns the horse to the front yard is victorious. The winning team receives solely festive things as a prize. Both victors and losers are cheered on by the residents and tourists. Following that, everyone gathered to drink wine, rejoice in the holy fortune, and look forward to the following year's celebration.

Xa Ma is a rite infused with the folklore identity of the local people

To increase the richness and attractiveness of the festival, every year the Organizing Committee also organizes more cultural and artistic activities, sports, and folk games such as net-knitting contests, duck hunting, and cockfighting,... creating a joyful atmosphere among the people.

Xa Ma Festival - Hoang Chau Procession is a captivating cultural heritage celebration in Hai Phong. It offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich traditions, spirituality, and community spirit of the region. For travelers seeking an authentic cultural experience, attending the festival in Vietnam is highly recommended. Book your Vietnam tour now and be part of these extraordinary cultural events.