Lồng Tông Festival 2025

The Lồng Tông Festival (or Lồng Tồng Festival) in Tuyên Quang province exemplifies a high degree of communal significance, embodying the cultural heritage of the Tày ethnic group. Despite temporal shifts, the cultural essence of the Lồng Tông Festival remains ingrained in the subconscious and spiritual-cultural fabric of the local Tày community in Tuyên Quang.

Lồng Tông Festival 2025

The Lồng Tông Festival constitutes a form of folk cultural activity, serving as a prayer for a prosperous harvest among the agrarian populace engaged in rice cultivation. This tradition reflects ancient beliefs while intertwining with the veneration of the village Thành Hoàng, the Land Genie, and individuals who have significantly contributed to the nation's prosperity, thereby establishing the village...

The occurrence date of Lồng Tông Festival

The Lồng Tông Festival is meticulously observed on the January 8th of the Lunar New Year, symbolizing aspirations for national prosperity, domestic tranquility, and bountiful harvests. However, preparations commence on the 7th day, culminating in the central ceremony the subsequent day.

Visitors to Tuyên Quang province during this festival can experience its unique human values

Visitors coming to Tuyên Quang province in this festival can witness and experience the festival's uniqueness and human values, intricately connected with the rice cultivation profession of the highland people at large and the Tày ethnic group specifically.

Interesting activities at the festival

Initiating festivities from the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, Vĩnh Lộc town starts preparing various activities. The inaugural event involves a sewing contest, showcasing the finesse and grace of Tày girls. These young women craft fabric bags to hold grain, rice, and sand. 

Fabric bags from the sewing contest will be thrown to signify the commencement of a new year

Specifically, grain symbolizes seeds while sand represents rice cultivation, and rice symbolizes the final harvest. These bags are then ceremoniously presented on an altar at the Bách Thần temple on the next day.

On the morning of the lunar January 8th, the festival commences with a ceremony at the Bách Thần temple. The vegetarian ritual offerings include square and round cakes, colored sticky rice cakes, grilled cakes, fruits, betel leaves, areca nuts,... Meanwhile, a non-vegetarian feast is prepared with a live rooster, colorful sticky rice, wine, and 100 fabric bags (selected from the previous day's sewing contest).

The non-vegetarian ritual offerings consist of a variety of colorful and flavorful foods

Following the ceremony, the bags are transported from the Bách Thần temple to the festival grounds (now the district stadium). Subsequently, the master of the ceremony conducts rituals and recitations, inviting Bách Thần to partake in Lồng Tông and seeking blessings for a harmonious and prosperous year.

In the evening, the festive atmosphere takes center stage. Firstly, people throw the initial fabric bag to signify the commencement of a new year filled with aspirations. If the first bag hits the mark, the ceremony master will announce the successful thrower's name to be rewarded. Secondly, a representative of the local government will plow the first furrows of the new year.

A local government representative will plow the first furrows of the new year for agricultural prosperity 

After that, various traditional games unfold on the field, including bridge crossing, mud wrestling, bird fighting, top spinning, cock fighting, chess, acrobatics, pole pushing, tug of war, and wrestling. Beyond mere amusement, these folk games carry sacred meanings, symbolizing the harmonious relationship between heaven and earth and expressing hopes for a healthy and prosperous new year.

In addition to the annual rituals and festivities, the district orchestrates booths to showcase agricultural products, culture, cuisine, and tourism. This strategic approach has elevated the Lồng Tông Festival into a brand and a sought-after destination for both local and distant tourists, significantly contributing to the development of traditional cultural tourism in the region.

Folk games bring amusement and carry sacred hopes for a healthy and prosperous new year

The special meaning of the festival

The Lồng Tông Festival adheres to collective rules and regulations, emphasizing communal elements and indigenous religious facets while encapsulating the aspirations of ancient farmers. The roles played by local government and the community in organizing and sustaining the festival ensure its unity, preserve its traditional essence, and highlight the festive agricultural spirit. 

The cultural products of the local populace manifest as forms of spiritual and cultural activities, amalgamating diverse folk cultural elements to cater to the spiritual needs of the local community. This festival, with its aspiration for national prosperity, domestic tranquility, and abundant harvests, stands as a cultural showcase presented by the Tày villages to both local and international tourists. 

The festival is a cultural showcase for Tày villages welcoming local and international tourists

It also serves as an effective means of preserving and promoting the cultural value of the Lồng Tông Festival. Integrated with community tourism development, highland destinations have established cultural spaces for ethnic communities, prominently featuring the Lồng Tông Festival of the Tày people.

The Lồng Tông Festival provides an amazing opportunity for travelers to deeply immerse themselves in the rich culture and traditions of the Tày ethnic community. Begin planning your Vietnam tour right away and be part of the vibrant atmosphere of this distinctive celebration.