Cau Ngu Festival in Thai Duong Ha

Cau Ngu Festival, a vibrant one-day event, takes place in Thai Duong Ha village, located in Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam. In 2025, the festival will occur on the 12th day of the lunar year, a time to honor Truong Quy Cong, the village deity credited with teaching the community about fishing and trade.

The festivities begin the afternoon before the official day, with worship activities lasting until midnight. A highly esteemed elder leads the villagers through traditional rituals, fostering a sense of unity and reverence. Fishing boat owners don traditional attire, typically black ao dai paired with white trousers, completing their look with a red scarf tied around their heads.
Photo: mytour.com 

On the festival day, a designated worshipper makes the first offering, seeking blessings of health and prosperity for the village. This begins with the symbolic striking of a drumstick wrapped in a red scarf, marking the official start of the celebrations. In the temple garden, an elder in traditional costume enters the hall, accompanied by two men in red scarves who entertain the crowd with humorous antics. A long series of drumbeats follows, signaling participants to take their places. In front of the main altar, an elder scatters money and ceremonial food onto the ground for the children to collect. Simultaneously, fishing boat owners, holding small boats in their hands, mimic the act of catching "fishes"—the children—who are playfully trying to evade capture amidst the joyful sounds of firecrackers.

The fishing boat owners attempt to "catch" the children, playful participants referred to as “fishes,” until they manage to gather enough to present as offerings to the village god. Some children are brought to the seashore to wash in the ocean, while others are involved in a lively trading process, reminiscent of a bustling market, where people haggle over the "fishes." After completing these transactions, the boat owners convene at a designated spot, such as the temple courtyard or a nearby pagoda, to jubilantly share their earnings. The festivities culminate back at the harbor with an exhilarating boat racing competition that draws a crowd of excited spectators.

This unique simulation and the Cau Ngu Festival itself embody the villagers' heartfelt tribute to their revered deity. In 2025, Cau Ngu Festival has not only become a vital cultural event but also a captivating artistic celebration filled with traditional significance.