Seek your luck at the 300-year-old fishing festival in Ha Tinh.

As scheduled, every year, the Dong Hoa fishing festival takes place in the Vuc lagoon area (Nam Vien village, Xuan Vien commune, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province). This is one of the three traditional fishing festivals in Vietnam that have been preserved to this day. The festival has attracted the participation of thousands of people from within and outside Ha Tinh province.

Spanning over 30 hectares, Dam Vuc Lake lies at the foot of Hong Linh Mountain, boasting picturesque scenery and a rich variety of freshwater fish. According to local elders, the Dong Hoa fishing festival dates back nearly 300 years and is one of the unique traditional festivals deeply rooted in the folk culture of the local people.

The festival is held annually after the harvest, usually after the Dragon Boat Festival and depending on the water level in Dam Vuc Lagoon. Beyond promoting agriculture and fishing, the Dong Hoa festival also strengthens solidarity and community bonds among the villagers.

Mr. Tran Thanh Hoa, 62 years old, a resident of Xuan Vien commune, shared: "I've participated in this festival since I was a child, and now that I'm over 60, my excitement and anticipation for the festival day have hardly changed!" - Mr. Tran Thanh Hoa said.

From the early morning hours, people from all over eagerly brought various fishing tools such as baskets, nets, traps, and seines to the Dam Vuc area. At exactly 6:30 a.m., after the ceremonial part, the village head shouted loudly and waded into the lagoon with a basket to catch the first fish, followed by hundreds of people with their fishing gear rushing into the lagoon. On the shore, thousands of people watched with delight, cheering and shouting encouragement.

Not only the elderly and young men, but also women and children enthusiastically participate, wading into the pond for a fish-catching race. According to the rules, those using baskets or nets are given priority to catch fish first, followed by those using seine nets or traps.

According to folklore, the bigger the fish someone catches, the more luck they will have, with a bountiful harvest and prosperous business throughout the year. Whenever someone shouts with joy after catching a large fish, everyone around rushes to share in the celebration, creating a joyful, simple yet heartwarming atmosphere. All the weariness and hardship of a year of worry and toil seem to vanish.

In recent years, the Dong Hoa fishing festival has become well-known to people both inside and outside Nghi Xuan district. Many people from Vinh city and other districts in Nghe An province also come to participate, join in the fun, and hope for good luck.

The Dong Hoa Fishing Festival is organized in a very systematic and organized manner. The village has established clear regulations, a management board, and encourages people not to fish, trawl, or use nets in the lagoon to ensure an abundant fish supply on the day of the festival.

According to the leaders of Nghi Xuan district, although the Dong Hoa fishing festival is nearly 300 years old, the local government and people are always conscious of preserving and maintaining the fundamental beauty of the Dong Hoa fishing festival. The leadership also always tries to coordinate with local people to organize the festival on Sundays, when the harvest is basically finished, so that children who live far from home have the opportunity to return and participate in large numbers.

My Tong