Cau Ngu Festival in Ngu Loc commune

I returned to my hometown of Ngu Loc commune, Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province on the second day of the lunar calendar. I was really impressed and moved when I was able to immerse myself in the vibrant and sacred atmosphere of the Cau Ngu Festival in 2025 - a national intangible cultural heritage imbued with the identity of the Diem Pho sea area.

Drum performance

From early morning, streams of people flocked to the commune cultural center. The sounds of drums, gongs, and lion dance music mixed with the murmuring waves created a symphony that was both majestic and warm. I not only felt the solemnity of each palanquin procession and incense offering ceremony, but also clearly felt the great faith and hope of each fisherman here for heaven, earth, the sea, and the gods. The images of old people praying, young men and women solemnly dressed in ceremonial robes, and the eager eyes of children... All left me with a beautiful impression of the love of the land, the love of the sea, and the people's hearts tied together in the vast nature.

Many people and tourists attended the festival.

The post-ceremony festival is also very exciting with folk games. Not only is it a time for reunion and fun, it is also an opportunity for the younger generation to better understand their homeland’s traditions, the fishing industry, and the spirit of solidarity of the coastal community.

The Cau Ngu Festival in Ngu Loc commune is not simply a spiritual ritual or a day of entertainment. For the people living at the forefront of the waves and winds, it is a great spiritual support. Every wave, every trip out to sea is potentially dangerous, and therefore, the festival becomes an opportunity for people to express their aspirations for peace, luck, and a bountiful fishing season. Through the festival, fishermen seem to be given more strength and confidence to confidently go out to sea, attaching their lives to the immense ocean.

In particular, the festival is also an opportunity for people to express their gratitude to the gods - the supreme beings who, in the fishermen's minds, accompany and protect them in every tide. Besides, it is also an opportunity for descendants to remember the merits of their ancestors who built the fishing village, maintained the seafaring profession and passed on precious values ​​from generation to generation.

From a broader perspective, Cau Ngu Festival holds great value for Vietnamese culture. Our country has a long coastline, with millions of people living on fishing and seafood exploitation. Cau Ngu Festival is a miniature of the spiritual life of coastal people across the country. It is a harmonious blend of folk beliefs and real working life, creating a unique yet familiar feature of Vietnamese culture.

For Thanh Hoa province in general and Ngu Loc - Hau Loc locality in particular, Cau Ngu Festival is a source of pride, a heritage that needs to be preserved and promoted in the right direction. This is not only a cultural activity, but also a "string" connecting generations, connecting the community and promoting the image of the homeland to domestic and international friends. If properly invested, the festival will be a unique tourist highlight, contributing to the development of the marine economy, preserving national identity and spreading Vietnamese cultural values ​​in the international arena.

More than a festival, this is a place where sacred values ​​of tradition converge, where people and the sea become one, where people place their faith and aspirations far and wide. And it is also an indispensable part of the cultural heritage of our country - a country that always knows how to preserve its roots and honor the spiritual values ​​of its ancestors.

Dragon Pearl Procession

However, from the perspective of a participant and observer, I also see that in order for the Cau Ngu Festival of Ngu Loc commune to continue to spread strongly and promote sustainable values, there needs to be clear and synchronous directions. For example, it is necessary to invest more in the organization with professional and systematic preparation so that the festival is not only a local cultural activity but also becomes a typical cultural tourism product of Thanh Hoa province. The planning of the festival space, reception points and promotion on the media also needs more attention. Promote traditional education for the younger generation, integrate experiential activities at the festival with learning activities at school so that they understand and are proud of their homeland's culture, thereby proactively continuing to preserve and develop. Encourage the participation of the community and businesses in the work of preserving and promoting the festival. Socialization will contribute to reducing the burden on the budget, while creating a spread and shared responsibility in protecting heritage values. Besides maintaining traditional identity, the festival should be supplemented with new, modern but sophisticated elements to create attractiveness and richness, not only to attract tourists from all over the world but also to create a highlight on the map of Vietnam's cultural tourism.

...Leaving Ngu Loc after the festival, I brought with me beautiful images of people, customs and strong beliefs at the forefront. Hopefully, with the cooperation of the government, people and attention from all levels, the Cau Ngu Festival of Ngu Loc commune will be increasingly promoted in the right direction, becoming a priceless spiritual asset, "keeping the fire" of culture for future generations.

Ngu Loc, Hau Loc March 21, 2025

Lieutenant General, Associate Professor, Dr. Dong Dai Loc

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/le-hoi-cau-ngu-xa-ngu-loc-net-dep-van-hoa-linh-thieng-va-niem-tu-hao-van-hoa-dan-toc-243202.htm