Can Gio prepares for the Whale Festival

The festival is held on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month every year, a unique cultural feature of coastal fishermen, an occasion to pray for favorable weather, national peace and safety for seafarers. The main activities of the Nghinh Ong Festival in Can Gio take place over 3 days from September 7 to 9, on the 14th, 15th and 16th of the 8th lunar month.

The festival mainly takes place in Can Thanh town, including ceremonial activities such as visiting the Rung Sac martyrs cemetery, the Great Flag Raising Ceremony, the Celebration of the fishermen of Can Gio district, the Worship of ancestors - descendants - old friends, the flower boat group releasing lanterns on the sea, the Whale Welcome Ceremony on the sea and welcoming the welcoming group to the Mausoleum of the Water General, the Traditional Great Worship Ceremony at the Mausoleum of the Water General. The festival includes folk games of the Can Gio sea area such as pushing trees, casting nets, mending nets, stilt racing, rowing boat racing.

“This year, for the first time, the People's Committee of Can Gio district has developed a festival plan with the theme "Fishermen clinging to the sea" to promote propaganda and education on love for the profession, love for the homeland, and the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland. It is expected that in 2014, the festival will attract about 40,000 visitors. The preparation work for accommodation services, ensuring safety, security and order during the festival has been directed by the People's Committee of the district to be seriously implemented by the units”, said Ms. Doan Thi Ngoc Cam - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Gio district. With the theme "Fishermen clinging to the sea", one of the highlights of the Nghinh Ong Festival 2014 is the exhibition "Vietnam's Border - Sea and Islands" along with exhibitions of images and artifacts about the 35-year process of restoring, protecting and conserving the Can Gio Mangrove Forest World Biosphere Reserve; exhibition of images and artifacts about the revolutionary struggle tradition of Can Gio district; Exhibition of fishing gear through the ages; exhibition introducing river tourism...

There are also other activities such as nightly art performances, Vietnamese Goods Market, Southern Flavors culinary festival, city-level sports competitions, giving away Mid-Autumn Festival cakes and school supplies to children in Can Gio district.

The Thanh