What is Nghinh Ong Lai Son Festival and when does it take place?
Nghinh Ong Lai Son Festival, also called Nghinh Ong Hon Son or Nghinh Ong Kien Hai, is a traditional festival of fishermen in the Kien Hai coastal area, held annually over two days, the 15th and 16th of the 10th lunar month, at Lang Ong Nam Hai on Hon Son Island, in Kien Hai special zone, An Giang province (formerly Kien Hai district, Kien Giang province). In 2026, these two days fall on November 23 and 24 on the solar calendar.
According to Mr. Truong Van Duoc, Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Lang Ong Nam Hai Historical and Cultural Relic, the festival originates from the totem worship custom and belief of fishermen and has become an indispensable part of the spiritual and cultural life of Kien Hai coastal residents for more than 100 years. Previously, on the full moon of the 10th lunar month, fishermen came to Lang Ong to give thanks after a year of safe and favorable fishing and to pray for a new season with smooth sailing. Gradually, this custom became a festival and has been maintained since the 1990s.
Why do Kien Hai fishermen worship the whale?
In fishermen's folk belief, the whale is considered a sacred creature, honored as Nam Hai Dai Tuong Quan, a deity who protects seafarers, especially when they face big waves, strong winds, or sudden danger. The festival is therefore an occasion for fishermen to express gratitude to Nam Hai Dai Tuong Quan and to send wishes for favorable weather and a peaceful, complete fishing season.
It should be clearly distinguished: this is a folk belief practice, described as a cultural practice of the fishermen community. This article does not assert the supernatural efficacy of the worship, nor does it deny that belief. What can be objectively noted is that the festival plays an important role in spiritual life and is an occasion for the fishermen community to gather, share, and bond.
What does Nghinh Ong Lai Son Festival include?
The festival consists of two main parts: the ritual part and the festive part.
Ritual part
The ritual part includes the main Nam Hai deity welcoming ceremony, along with other ceremonies such as inviting deities, praying for peace, praying for the deceased, and troop review. The festival also includes the ritual of welcoming the Than Hoang and Ba Co Chu spirit tablets. Residents of Kien Hai special zone perform the deity welcoming ceremony at Lang Ong.
Festive part
The festive part features many cultural, artistic, and sports activities. In the 2025 festival with the theme "Kien Hai Special Zone - Aspiration to Reach Far," the festive part included: an opening art program welcoming the festival; the Lai Son island running race "For a Green Hon Son" of An Giang province in 2025; football and badminton tournaments; exhibitions of documentary images about the sea, islands, and scenic landscapes of Kien Hai linked to a golden bell ringing contest; activities serving residents with book reading and book displays; spaces for displaying, introducing, and promoting tourism; promotion of OCOP products, typical rural industrial products, and distinctive products of the province and special zone; along with food stalls.
Summary table of basic information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Common name | Nghinh Ong Lai Son Festival |
| Other names | Nghinh Ong Hon Son, Nghinh Ong Kien Hai |
| Time | 15th and 16th days of the 10th lunar month annually |
| Solar calendar date in 2026 | November 23 and 24 |
| Location | Lang Ong Nam Hai, Hon Son Island (Lai Son), Kien Hai special zone |
| Current administrative unit | Kien Hai special zone, An Giang province (formerly Kien Hai district, Kien Giang province) |
| Object of worship | Nam Hai Dai Tuong Quan (the whale) |
| Belief basis | Fishermen's totem worship custom |
| Structure | Ritual part and festive part |
| Period of maintained organization | From the 1990s to present |
Notable points in the festival
The whale procession ritual at sea
The Nam Hai deity welcoming ceremony is the central ritual of the ritual part. This is the whale procession activity at sea, expressing reverence for Nam Hai Dai Tuong Quan. This ritual is tied to the characteristics of coastal residents, whose living space is closely connected to the sea.
Community participation
Local residents come together at Lang Ong Nam Hai to clean and prepare everything so the festival takes place solemnly and safely. Mr. Nguyen Van Hai, residing in Bai Nha A hamlet, Kien Hai special zone, said: "This is the heart of the people for the Nghinh Ong festival, praying for favorable weather, especially for fishermen's sea trips to be safe and favorable."
Mr. To Hoang Oanh, residing in Bai Bac hamlet, with more than 40 years tied to fishing, shared: "We people of the sea always revere the whale. When the festival comes, everyone joins hands and contributes to organizing it thoughtfully, with the wish that people have enough food, happiness, favorable weather, and especially that fishermen's sea trips are safe, favorable, and catch plenty of fish and shrimp."
Charity activities
At the festival, people are served free vegetarian dishes, vegetarian banh xeo, and drinks. These are charitable deeds expressing the spirit of solidarity and mutual affection among people from all regions of the Fatherland.
Decoration and festival atmosphere
Along the roads around Lai Son Island, banners and slogans promoting the Nghinh Ong festival are displayed, creating a lively atmosphere. Not only local residents, but many visitors from elsewhere also come to Lai Son Island to join the festival.
How do visitors and the community receive the festival?
Ms. Nguyen Hai Yen, a visitor from Can Tho City, said she had been to Hon Son many times but this was her first visit during the Nghinh Ong festival. She shared: "It was truly a fortunate coincidence that my family could directly experience the very unique traditional festival atmosphere of the local people." She also suggested that local authorities should research organizing more distinctive tourism activities on the island such as climbing Ma Thien Lanh mountain, organizing a running race around the island, and linking tours from Hon Tre to Hon Son to Nam Du during the festival.
According to Mr. Chau Hung Ky, Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Hai special zone, the Nghinh Ong festival not only carries belief and cultural value but is also an event that attracts a large number of visitors to the Kien Hai sea area. This is an occasion for people to learn more about the life and culture of coastal fishermen, and also an opportunity to promote the distinctive cultural and tourism products of the locality.
Organization work and conservation orientation
The special zone has prepared facilities for festival activities. The venue is arranged spaciously and conveniently for travel. The locality coordinates with provincial departments and agencies to develop plans ensuring security, order, traffic safety; fire prevention and fighting; hygiene and food safety, helping residents and visitors feel secure participating in activities throughout the festival.
In the coming time, Kien Hai special zone will continue implementing synchronized solutions to preserve, maintain, and promote the traditional cultural values of Nghinh Ong Lai Son Festival, linked to the development of island culture and tourism. This includes continuing to preserve, restore, and properly practice traditional festival rituals, ensuring solemnity and conformity with customs, expressing reverence for Nam Hai Dai Tuong Quan. At the same time, improving the quality of the festive part to create a vibrant atmosphere and attract a large number of people and visitors to Lai Son to join and experience the festival.
What does Nghinh Ong Lai Son Festival mean to the community?
In terms of belief, the festival is an occasion for fishermen to express gratitude to Nam Hai Dai Tuong Quan and to send wishes for a peaceful fishing season. In cultural terms, it is an indispensable part of the spiritual and cultural life of Kien Hai coastal residents. In social terms, the festival is an occasion for the community to gather, share, meet, and interact. In economic terms, the festival is an important cultural and tourism event, a unique highlight, and an opportunity to promote the image and exploit the tourism development potential of Kien Hai special zone.
With potential and advantages in natural landscapes for tourism development and strengths in the economy of fishing and aquaculture, in recent years tourism has gradually developed according to the orientation of being one of the four breakthrough stages of the resolution of the Party Congress of Kien Hai special zone.
Things to note when learning about the festival
First, Nghinh Ong Lai Son Festival is one of many Nghinh Ong festivals in Vietnam's coastal areas. Each locality has its own time, location, and rituals. This article only presents the festival in Lai Son, Kien Hai special zone, according to available sources.
Second, the information about organization time in this article is based on the 2025 festival seasons and annual organization orientation. The specific time of each year may change depending on the lunar calendar and local plans.
Third, this is a folk belief practice that currently exists. Learning about the festival should be placed in the cultural context of the fishermen community, avoiding imposing an outside perspective.
Fourth, regarding place names, Hon Son Island is also called Lai Son. The current administrative unit is Kien Hai special zone, An Giang province, after administrative unit rearrangement. Previously, this area belonged to Kien Hai district, Kien Giang province. When looking up information, readers may encounter both ways of naming.
