VHO - On April 18, at Tran De town, the People's Committee of Tran De district, Soc Trang province solemnly organized the Nam Hai Whale Festival in Tran De town.

The Nghinh Ong Nam Hai Festival in Tran De town is one of the major festivals in the southwestern coastal region. The festival is held to pray for national peace and prosperity, calm seas, gentle winds, and fishermen catching lots of fish and shrimp, bringing a prosperous life.

According to the Organizing Committee, the Nghinh Ong Festival in Tran De district will take place from April 18-20, 2025 (March 21-23 of the lunar calendar), with two parts: the Ong procession ceremony and the Ong worship ceremony according to traditional rituals.

In addition, there are also activities such as: flower arrangement and fruit tray display contest, painting contest, folk games, sports competitions, etc. forming a series of cultural and sports events, attracting a large number of fishermen in the district and neighboring provinces to participate.

Mr. Pham Van Dau, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang province, informed that the Nam Hai Whale Festival in Tran De town was included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2019.

The festival has existed for more than 60 years, is a traditional belief passed down through generations in the fishing community, expressing the desire for national peace and prosperity, calm seas, and favorable fishing.

Mr. Pham Van Dau said that this year's festival, in addition to the traditional worshiping part, the People's Committee of Tran De district coordinated with the Ong Lang Management Board to carry out conservation contents according to the project such as: performing the Ong procession ritual, traditional worshiping,...

At the same time, expand association activities, develop tourism products, promote local images and raise people's awareness in preserving cultural heritage, contributing to socio-economic development.

Ms. Tran Thi Hong Tham (Ben Tre) shared that her family works in the fishing industry so she participates in the festival to pray for peace, a good shrimp and fish season, and a more prosperous life. The festival attracts a large number of tourists, creating a joyful and warm atmosphere, making everyone excited and hopeful for a bountiful fishing season.

The leader of the People's Committee of Tran De district also said that after the Provincial People's Committee approved the Project to preserve and promote the value of the national intangible cultural heritage of the Nghinh Ong festival in the period of 2023-2028, the district will step up propaganda to raise people's awareness in the work of preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage.

According to Mr. Trinh Van Be, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tran De district, the goal of the project is to periodically organize the Nghinh Ong festival, increase the scale, preserve and promote the value of traditional rituals.

At the same time, the locality will also promptly commend and reward outstanding individuals and groups and research preferential policies for artisans who preserve and teach cultural heritage in the community.