Recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, the Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Festival is not only a spiritual ritual honoring the sea but also a cultural and tourism highlight of Vung Tau Ward (formerly Vung Tau City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province), now under Ho Chi Minh City.

The maritime soul of Nghinh Ong Festival

According to legend, whales would often appear to rescue fishermen in distress at sea. Because of this, the fishermen of Vung Tau honor the whale as the “Nam Hai Great General,” building temples to worship him and organizing the Nghinh Ong Festival each year as a form of gratitude.

The heart of the festival is the Ong Thang Tam Mausoleum, an ancient shrine nestled in the heart of the coastal city, preserving deep spiritual and historical values.

The Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Festival usually takes place in mid-August of the lunar calendar. It attracts a large number of locals and visitors with its two main components: the ceremonial rituals and the festivities.

The opening ritual begins with three drum rolls and three gong strikes, signaling the start of the water procession for the Water General.

As the gongs and drums fade, a ceremonial fleet of brilliantly decorated boats forms a procession that transports the spiritual essence of the Whale God from Nghinh Phong Cape to the Thang Tam communal house.

Leading the procession are respected village elders, regarded as spiritual guides by the community. They escort paper-mâché whale effigies, each about 10 meters long, from Bai Truoc Beach to the Nam Hai Whale Mausoleum.

Upon arrival, an official scroll is read to announce that "Ong" has been successfully received at the temple.

The following rituals include offerings to the village founders and national heroes, the grand stage ritual “xay chau Dai Boi,” and the reading of sacred ordinances inside the Nam Hai Mausoleum.

These rituals are conducted with solemnity and intricate traditional procedures, creating an atmosphere of reverence.

After the formal rituals, the festive section begins with vibrant folk games related to fishermen’s lives, such as fish-carrying contests, fishing games, swimming competitions, and net-weaving challenges.

In addition, the festival showcases captivating performances of “hat ba trao” (chanting while rowing), traditional opera, lion dances, and dragon dances, drawing the attention of both locals and tourists.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has included the Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Festival in the national list of intangible cultural heritage.

A legacy of culture and unity

With its long-standing tradition, the Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Festival has become a significant cultural feature for the fishing community of Vung Tau.

It is not only a time to pray for good weather and safe voyages but also a communal space that connects people with the ocean and with each other.

On February 14, 2023, the Ministry officially recognized the Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Festival as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Preserving, promoting, and sharing the heritage

Now honored as a national heritage, the Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Festival is a source of pride for local fishermen and a part of the broader national cultural treasure.

As tourism and international integration develop, the festival has increasingly become a unique cultural-tourism product, promoting Vung Tau as a dynamic and welcoming destination.

In recent years, local authorities have introduced numerous measures to both preserve the festival's original spirit and enhance its value.

The ceremonial elements remain sacred and standardized, while the festive activities now include more cultural exchanges and artistic programs to attract and immerse visitors.

Nguyen Tan Ban, Party Secretary of Vung Tau Ward, affirmed that recognizing the Nghinh Ong Festival as a national heritage helps preserve, inherit, and promote cultural values. It also reinforces the spirit of “remembering the source” and instills patriotism and love for the homeland’s seas and islands.

Looking ahead, in addition to maintaining the annual festival, the locality plans to digitize materials, promote it widely across modern media platforms, and incorporate it into local cultural education.

This approach ensures that future generations can better understand the festival’s heritage, build cultural pride, and strengthen awareness of marine preservation.

From a traditional fishermen’s ritual, the Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Festival has now evolved into a nationally significant intangible heritage.

Each year, as the drums echo and flags flutter, thousands of people come together in both sacred and festive unity. It is a time of joyous community reunion and an occasion for Vung Tau to affirm its unique cultural identity while promoting its friendly, deeply rooted traditions.

Preserving and promoting the festival is also a way of safeguarding the soul of the sea, spreading humanistic values, and aiming for the sustainable development of coastal communities in the modern era.

According to the Vung Tau Ward People’s Committee, the 2025 Nghinh Ong Thang Tam Festival will take place from October 3 to October 12, with the main rituals held from October 7 to October 9 (corresponding to the 16th to 18th days of the eighth lunar month).

The festival has been preserved by generations of fishermen and residents of Vung Tau for more than 100 years, featuring rituals that embody the rich cultural characteristics of Vietnam’s coastal regions.

Quang Hung