TL;DR: The buffalo celebration (also called Khoan vai, thanking the buffalo) of the Tày and Nùng peoples is held on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month, after the summer rice transplanting is finished. It is an occasion to thank the buffalo for ploughing, to pray for the herd's health and a good harvest, and to gather family and community.
What is the buffalo celebration on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month?
The buffalo celebration, also called Khoan vai (thanking the buffalo), is a traditional rite of the Tày and Nùng peoples in northern provinces such as Cao Bằng, Thái Nguyên (Bắc Kạn province before July 2025), and Lạng Sơn. It is held on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month, after the Tày have finished transplanting rice on the terraced fields. This is an occasion to thank the buffalo, the animal regarded as the "capital" of the farming household[1].
Why do the Tày and Nùng hold a rite to thank the buffalo?
The Tày and Nùng live mainly by wet rice cultivation, and the buffalo is the main source of draught power for ploughing and preparing the soil. Every household has at least one buffalo; those without must borrow a buffalo from another household to plough in time for the season[1]. After transplanting, the buffalo rests, and the people hold a thanksgiving rite to acknowledge the buffalo's contribution.
What offerings and rituals are included in the buffalo worship?
Offerings in the Khoan vai rite usually include duck meat, cakes shaped like buffalo horns, vermicelli, wine, fruit, and votive paper. The household head arranges the offerings on the altar and prays to the deities to protect the buffalo herd so that they can continue to help with ploughing. After the ritual, the household head leads the buffalo to the stream to bathe it, and before lunch feeds it the cakes and vermicelli that were offered.
How does the buffalo celebration differ between localities?
The Tày in the Nghĩa Đô area (formerly Bảo Yên district, now part of Lào Cai province) hold a celebration for the buffalo on the full moon of the seventh lunar month, after finishing the rice harvest.
What is the significance of the buffalo celebration for farming life?
The buffalo celebration reminds every household to value and not overwork the buffalo herd, so that the buffalo remains the "capital" of the farmer[1]. It is also an occasion for family members to gather and eat together after days of hard work. The rite helps strengthen community bonds and preserve the traditional cultural identity of the Tày and Nùng.
Summary table of the buffalo celebration of the Tày and Nùng
| Criterion | Content |
|---|---|
| Name | Buffalo celebration, Khoan vai, thanking the buffalo |
| Time | 6th day of the 6th lunar month (some places hold it on the full moon of the seventh month) |
| Subject | Tày and Nùng peoples in Cao Bằng, Thái Nguyên (including former Bắc Kạn), Lạng Sơn, Lào Cai |
| Offerings | Duck meat, cakes shaped like buffalo horns, vermicelli, wine, fruit, votive paper |
| Rituals | Praying to deities, bathing the buffalo, feeding it cakes and vermicelli |
| Meaning | Thanking the buffalo, praying for its health, family reunion |
Is the buffalo celebration still maintained today?
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Khoan vai rite is a beautiful custom of the Tày and Nùng, an occasion to strengthen family and community bonds and to promote their long-standing culture. Today, this custom is still maintained in many localities, though it may vary in form and scale depending on the economic and social conditions of each place.
Frequently asked questions
Is the buffalo celebration on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month the Tết of the Tày and Nùng?
The buffalo celebration is not a major Tết like Tết Nguyên Đán, but it is an important annual rite of the Tày and Nùng, held after transplanting to thank the buffalo and pray for a good harvest.
Why is the 6th day of the 6th lunar month chosen for the buffalo celebration?
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the 6th day of the 6th lunar month is the time after the Tày have finished transplanting rice, when the buffalo rests, so they hold the buffalo thanksgiving rite.
Is the buffalo celebration related to the worship of deities?
Yes. In the Khoan vai rite, the household head prays to the deities to protect the buffalo herd and makes offerings to ancestors and the local earth god[1]. This is a rite with elements of the folk beliefs of the Tày and Nùng.
