Ky Yen Festival

The Ky Yen Festival is a traditional celebration held at Binh Thuy Temple in Can Tho City, Vietnam. This annual event marks both the beginning and the conclusion of the agricultural season while offering prayers for a bountiful harvest. The festival consists of two main rites: Thuong Dien (Opening Crop) in April, which initiates the new planting season, and Ha Dien (Ending Crop) in December, which expresses gratitude to the deities for a successful harvest. Both rites share a common purpose of honoring the ancestors who cultivated the land and thanking the gods for their blessings. Following the rites, an array of festivities takes place. The temple is adorned with vibrant lights and colorful banners. Attendees don traditional formal attire and engage in various cultural activities, including folk singing, traditional dancing, wrestling, rope tug-of-war, and even cockfighting. This event also serves as a vital opportunity for families and friends to reunite, enjoy meals together, and exchange wishes for good fortune in the upcoming season.