Cau Ngu Binh Thuan Festival

Whale worship has long been practiced by fishermen in coastal provinces, and Binh Thuan province is no exception. Join us to learn what makes Cau Ngu Binh Thuan Festival unique and different from other local fishing festivals.

Introduction of Cau Ngu Binh Thuan Festival

The primary fishing season in Binh Thuan normally begins on June 20 of the lunar calendar, with numerous meaningful and colorful folk ceremonies vividly recreating the thousands of fishermen's habit of worshiping the Ong fish.

The location and significance of the Cau Ngu Binh Thuan Festival 

Van Thuy Tu is located in Duc Thang ward - Phan Thiet city and is related with the oldest fisheries beliefs born in Binh Thuan, as well as the origin and center of spiritual and cultural activities of whale worship in the province.

A fishing festival is conducted every year at Van Thuy Tu, a popular tourist destination in Binh Thuan province, where the skeleton of the Ong fish (whale) is the largest fish species. Van Thuy Tu is located on Ngu Ong Street in Duc Thang Ward, Phan Thiet City, with up to 5 fishing festivals on each row. The primary fishing festival takes place from June 19 to 22, according to the lunar calendar. This festival demonstrated the fishermen of Binh Thuan province's unwavering faith in the Ong fish's revelation. The Cau Ngu Festival in Van Thuy Tu arose from the gathering of thousands and the fishermen's belief in worshiping the Ong fish. 

The event expresses fisherman's thanks to Ong fish for supporting and assisting fishermen in remaining safe at sea during times of peril, as well as assisting fishermen in having a plentiful sea season.

Cau Ngu Binh Thuan Festival 

Special activities of Cau Ngu Binh Thuan Festival 

The fishermen of Binh Thuan province, like the fishermen of the provinces located in the South and Central seas, have a habit of worshiping whales that includes many religious ceremonies.

Ceremony part: In addition to the main Cau Ngu festival, which is held from June 19-22 of the year, a number of other rituals are also held on a regular basis at ten thousand, gathered into a system of rituals such as: Ong Fish Bone Festival, Ong Burial Ceremony, New Year's Cau Ngu Festival, also known as Spring Festival, still takes place every year on the occasion of the second lunar month, and Cau Ngu Festival at the start of the season) will take place in the 4th lunar month, the main season of Cau Ngu is usually held in the sixth lunar month, and the season full moon festival is held in the 8th lunar month.

The main festival from June 19-22 of the lunar calendar usually lasts four days and nights, but according to long-standing custom, the main season of praying for fish in Van Thuy Tu communal house will be worshiped once every two years, and the ritual of becoming vegetarian will be completed once every one year. The festival follows a strict program with many rituals, the most notable of which is the Nghe Sac ceremony (the Forestry Committee makes offerings to the gods and processes the ordination to the incense altars, reports the beginning of the festival, and invites the gods to witness).

Cau Ngu Binh Thuan Festival 

Within two hours, an Ong Sanh Thuy Luc fish worshiping ceremony was held in the sea outside Phan Thiet port. The Ba Trao rowing group will participate in the ritual honoring Nam Hai god from afar. When the Ba Chao group returned to Van, they continued to sing cheo in order to entice the gods to settle there.

Part of the event was also held outside and on the sea, with people worshiping Nghinh Ong (the Nam Hai god's procession) from the sea to the fishing sites. In the ceremony, the Ba Trao rowing group primarily performs on boats on the route from the sea gate to Van Thuy Tu in distinctive costumes.

Other activities

Furthermore, the celebration includes a ceremony to release the lanterns on the water, as well as a ceremony to release the boat to worship for the souls who have lost their lives at sea, the breaking ceremony, and the liberating ceremony, which has two elements: the ceremony and the festival. The procession of the Nam Hai god, in particular, is always the most important ritual, with a distinct communal culture, and serves as the opening ceremony for dozens of future ceremonies. The primary ritual in the procession of Nam Hai god is the festival's highlight. There are many participants in the parade, including ceremony groups, Ba Trao rowing groups, ceremonial music groups, monks in various costumes...

There are dozens of large boats with fan flags and a great number of people participating intermingled with the Ba Trao rowing dance, and the ceremony lasts an hour to worship the God at sea, catching the attention of observers.

Cau Ngu Binh Thuan Festival 

It is the honor and joy of the people of Binh Thuan in general, and of coastal fisherman in particular, that the Cau Ngu festival in Van Thuy Tu has been inscribed on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Thus, demonstrating community togetherness, educating coastal inhabitants' love of homeland, facilitating the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, and creating good conditions for tourism development in the future.

Cau Ngu Festival in Van Thuy Tu not only displays the distinct folkloric culture of the region, but it also preserves, enriches, and promotes the diversity of national cultural identity. It is an opportunity to promote the ideals of marine culture gathered over many generations, as well as prior generations' experience interacting with the water. Joining Vietnam discovery tours will teach you about the country's many festivals and unique culture. As a result, you will get the opportunity to learn about and discover Vietnam's country, people, and culture.

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