Binh Dong Ky Yen Festival in Ho Chi Minh City 2026

Binh Dong Ky Yen Festival is one of the most representative traditional folk festivals of Southern Vietnam, vividly reflecting the spiritual beliefs and communal culture of early Saigon residents. Beyond its role in praying for peace and prosperity, the festival is also an occasion for local people to honor their ancestors and preserve traditional values passed down through generations. With GTrip, travelers can better understand the cultural significance of this event and plan a meaningful visit that goes beyond sightseeing.

Overview of the Binh Dong Ky Yen Festival in Ho Chi Minh City

This event is an opportunity to educate younger generations about patriotism. The solemn atmosphere of a village festival, leaving unforgettable impressions on those who attend.

Origins of Binh Dong Ky Yen Festival

Binh Dong Communal House is one of the typical ancient communal houses of Southern Vietnam, closely linked to the formation of residential communities along the canal network of old Saigon - Cho Lon. According to local folklore, a villager once discovered a ceremonial official’s hat drifting on a nearby canal. Believing it belonged to a mandarin or royal soldier who had met with misfortune, the villager respectfully retrieved the hat, placed it on a small elevated mound, and offered prayers.

Following this event, the area reportedly enjoyed abundant harvests, favorable weather, and growing prosperity. Trusting in this spiritual blessing, residents from surrounding areas gathered to settle, establish a village, and build a communal house for worship. From that time on, Binh Dong Communal House became the spiritual center of the community. Even today, newly offered ceremonial hats can still be found on the main altar, symbolizing faith, gratitude, and the continuation of tradition across generations.

Alongside the establishment of the communal house, the Ky Yen Festival has been held periodically to pray for national peace, public safety, and prosperous livelihoods. In Southern Vietnamese belief, “Ky Yen” signifies long-lasting peace and stability for the entire community. Over time, the festival has evolved beyond a spiritual ceremony to become an important cultural event that helps preserve local identity amid a modern urban environment.

Binh Dong Communal House is more than 150 years old located along the Saigon canal

Date and location of the event

The Binh Dong Ky Yen Festival is held annually on the 12th and 13th days of the second lunar month, lasting two days with a full sequence of traditional rituals and folk cultural activities. In 2026, the festival continues to follow long-established customs, attracting local residents, pilgrims, and visitors interested in Southern Vietnamese history, beliefs, and culture.

The festival takes place at Binh Dong Communal House, located in Binh Dong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City - an area historically associated with the canal system of old Cho Lon. Featuring traditional Southern Vietnamese communal house architecture, a sacred atmosphere, and long-standing historical value, the site serves as both a religious center and a hub for community cultural life.

Binh Dong Ky Yen Festival holds profound cultural significance

Two-day activities of Ky Yen Festival

Festival activities take place continuously over two days, following a well-structured ritual sequence that reflects the spiritual and cultural values of the local community. Each ceremony carries its own meaning and is arranged chronologically from morning to evening, creating an atmosphere that is both solemn and communal.

Ritual offerings and worship ceremonies on day 1

In the morning: The day begins with commemorative and peace-praying rituals. The Ceremony of Honoring the Founding Masters pays tribute to those who passed down traditional skills and livelihoods that shaped the community. This is followed by a Buddhist chanting ceremony for peace, reflecting the harmonious integration of folk beliefs and Buddhism in Southern Vietnamese spiritual life. A particularly important ritual is the Restoration of Royal Decrees Ceremony, which reenacts the procession and worship of royal edicts bestowed upon the communal house, reaffirming its historical and spiritual status.

In the afternoon: The main sacrificial ceremonies take place. The Deity Worship Ceremony expresses reverence toward the deities worshipped at the communal house, while the Ancestors’ Ceremonies honor early settlers and later contributors who reclaimed land, built the village, and passed on cultural and social values. These rituals embody the Vietnamese tradition of gratitude toward one’s roots.

In the evening: Traditional Hat Boi performances are staged as offerings to the deities, usually from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. This is an indispensable highlight of the festival. The classical plays emphasize loyalty, filial piety, and moral virtues, serving both spiritual and cultural purposes.

Ky Yen festival begins with commemorative and peace-praying rituals

Traditional folk games on day 2

On the second day, Hat Boi performances continue in the morning, allowing audiences to fully appreciate the classical repertoire. In the afternoon, the festival atmosphere becomes more vibrant with lion and dragon dances, folk singing, banh tet cooking contests, and traditional folk games. Additional activities such as incense offerings for peace, visits to historical and cultural exhibitions, and enjoying traditional local cuisine further enhance the strong sense of community celebration.

The festival concludes on the evening of the second day with the thanksgiving ceremony, expressing gratitude to the deities for their blessings throughout the year. This solemn moment marks the spiritual conclusion of the festival and conveys hopes for peace and prosperity in the coming year. After the ceremony, the festival officially comes to an end in a warm and united atmosphere.

The festival atmosphere becomes more vibrant with lion and dragon dances in second day

Activities and symbolism of the festival

The Binh Dong Ky Yen Festival is not only a religious event but also holds profound cultural, historical, and communal significance. Through solemn rituals, local people express gratitude toward deities, ancestors, and those who contributed to the establishment of the village.

In a modern context, the festival preserves its core traditional values while adapting appropriately - such as simplifying overly complex rituals and using Vietnamese in prayers to make their meanings more accessible. This balance between tradition and modernity has allowed the festival to endure, making it a distinctive cultural and spiritual highlight of Ho Chi Minh City.

The festival takes place in an area historically associated with the canal system of the old Cho Lon

Binh Dong Ky Yen Festival is a vivid reflection of Southern Vietnam’s spiritual life and community traditions, preserving cultural values that have shaped early Saigon. For travelers seeking an authentic local festival experience, GTrip - Vietnam Travel Agency offers meaningful ways to explore this cultural highlight beyond the usual tourist routes.