The re-enactment was also dramatized through a theatrical performance that vividly retold the legend and ceremony of the sacred procession.

This year’s re-enactment was held in an atmosphere of pride and reverence, as the festival was recently inscribed by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The event followed time-honored ceremonial rites, including the Water Blessing Ceremony, Mountain Ascension, Holy Mother Invocation, incense offering at the Martyrs’ Monument, and the ceremonial dressing of the statue before its descent,..

Despite a heavy downpour at the start of the procession, thousands of faithful devotees and tourists pressed forward, walking over 4 kilometers from the mountaintop to the shrine. The rhythmic drums of lion dance troupes accompanied the procession, creating a culturally rich and vibrant atmosphere that is unique to the Ba Chua Xu Festival in An Giang.

At the beginning of the ceremony, the sound of ceremonial drums resounded as thousands of locals and pilgrims formed a procession over 2 kilometers long, led by the elders of Nui Sam Ward and provincial leaders. They offered incense at the Ba Chua Xu Temple and the Martyrs’ Memorial before carrying out the sacred ritual of transporting the Holy Mother’s statue from the summit to the shrine—a site considered her sacred resting place. A live stage performance accompanying the re-enactment was also presented here.

Mr. Lam Quang Thi, Secretary of the Chau Doc City Party Committee, stated that the national-level Ba Chua Xu Festival this year is held from May 11 to May 24 (14th to 27th of the fourth lunar month). The festival deeply reflects the cultural identity of the Southern riverine region. Its traditional values continue to draw strong interest from both domestic and international visitors.

"Recognizing the importance of heritage preservation, since the UNESCO inscription, the Party Committee and government of Chau Doc City and An Giang Province have paid special attention to conserving and promoting the cultural values of this heritage as part of the region’s socio-economic development strategy. This is considered a vital mission and an internal strength in the province’s development process," emphasized Mr. Lam Quang Thi.

With the aim of promoting broad public participation and returning the festival to its communal roots, this year’s festivities are rich and lively, offering a joyful and celebratory environment that meets the growing entertainment needs of the people and tourists. Communication efforts to publicize the festival’s image and significance have also been enhanced, contributing to a civilized and cultural celebration, while elevating the role of local people as heritage custodians.

Beyond the statue procession, the national-level Ba Chua Xu Festival also features other unique rituals such as: the statue bathing ceremony at midnight on May 20 (23rd lunar day), the transfer of the Thoai Ngoc Hau sacred decree from his mausoleum to the shrine, the Tuc Yet ritual, Xay Chau ritual, Chanh Te ceremony, and the Hoi Sac ceremony returning the decree to Thoai Ngoc Hau’s mausoleum,…

This year’s festival also includes a street parade, cultural performances, food and craft stalls, OCOP product exhibitions, calligraphy demonstrations, and lion dance competitions—offering diverse experiences for residents and visitors alike,…

Through the Ba Chua Xu Festival, Chau Doc City and An Giang Province aim to turn this event into a large-scale cultural and tourism highlight, developing unique tourism products rooted in national cultural heritage. It also fosters inter-provincial cultural exchanges, builds national unity, and strengthens cooperation for sustainable development.

The Ba Chua Xu Festival is a unique traditional folk festival of the Southern Vietnamese people, particularly in Chau Doc, An Giang. It embodies profound humanitarian values and represents the enduring cultural identity of the Vietnamese community, which has continuously evolved in harmony with Khmer, Chinese, and Cham cultural influences over generations. The festival is an opportunity for the people to express their faith, gratitude, and reverence to the ancestors and national benefactors.

In 2014, the festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Most recently, on December 4, 2024, the festival was inscribed by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This designation affirms the festival’s immense historical and cultural value, as well as its important role in the spiritual life of the people of An Giang and Vietnam, contributing significantly to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage at both national and international levels.

Reported by CM-TC

Translated by Kim Thuan