The Nam Hai Whale Festival is one of the typical traditional festivals, closely associated with the worship of the Whale God – the guardian deity of fishermen in the island region. For the people of Phu Quoc Island, the festival not only holds deep spiritual significance but also serves as an opportunity to pray for favorable weather, calm seas, and safe and bountiful fishing trips. With its solemn rituals, grand processions, and vibrant festive atmosphere, the Nam Hai Whale Festival has become a unique cultural feature, attracting many tourists to learn about and experience it when visiting Phu Quoc.
Introduction to the Nam Hai Ancestral Temple Festival
When and where does the Nam Hai Ancestral Temple Festival take place?
Every year on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month, the people of Ward 9, Duong Dong Commune, Phu Quoc Island, eagerly prepare to organize the Nam Hai Ancestral Temple Festival. This is a fishing festival for the fishermen of Phu Quoc Island, praying for health, good fortune, and prosperous business. It is also a time to prepare the people of the coastal region for their long voyages at sea this year. The festival is a long-standing cultural tradition of the people on Phu Quoc Island.
The Origin of the Nam Hai Whale Temple Festival
According to the elders of the fishing village, the temple dedicated to the Whale God (Nam Hai Great General) in the old Duong Dong ward, neighborhood 9, has existed for a long time, initially simply constructed from wood and leaves. At that time, people from Central Vietnam came here to settle, and although not many, they brought with them their belief in worshipping the Whale God. The lives of the people largely depended on fishing. Therefore, in their belief, conquering the ocean with courage and strength alone was not enough; they also needed the assistance of supernatural forces, especially the Whale God.
Two important rituals of the Nam Hai Mausoleum Festival:
The main ritual takes place on the 16th day of the 2nd lunar month and consists of two main ceremonies: the Prayer for Peace Ceremony and the Main Sacrifice Ceremony. In the Prayer for Peace Ceremony, fishermen prepare offerings to present to the Nam Hai Jade Unicorn deity, praying for peace and good fortune. The Main Sacrifice Ceremony is the main ritual with large offerings including: roasted pig, a platter of five kinds of fruit, and other fruits.
What makes the festival part of the Nam Hai Mausoleum so attractive?
The festival part is held on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month and features many exciting folk games such as tug-of-war, blindfolded pot smashing, boat racing, and a seafood cooking competition. In addition, the festival also includes performances of Quang Nam traditional opera and folk music.
Attending the Boat Race Festival of the Fishing Village
Boat racing is one of the most prominent activities of the Nam Hai Ancestral Temple Festival. Around 4:00 AM on the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month, the village chief beat drums at the temple to gather the young men and women of the village in front of the temple to prepare for the boat race. The atmosphere of the boat race festival was incredibly lively, attracting thousands of people stretching nearly 2km along the beach, cheering and shouting. The fishermen’s basket boats waved flags and beat gongs and drums, further enhancing the festive atmosphere. The oarsmen, dressed in uniforms, tried their best to stay close to each other, meter by meter, to compete.
Participate in Fun Folk Games
The exciting traditional folk games, indispensable in festivals, are also held enthusiastically at the Nam Hai Mausoleum Festival. After the ceremonial part, locals and tourists alike eagerly anticipate the festive part, excitedly joining in the lively atmosphere. Sports and recreational activities such as boat racing, tug-of-war, swimming, and basket-shaking, all bearing the distinctive mark of the region, demonstrate the close relationship between people and nature in this area.
If you’re traveling to Phu Quoc during a festival and are wondering what there is to do, participating in this unique traditional festival is an opportunity not to be missed!
Experiencing the fascinating culinary delights of Phu Quoc
If you have the opportunity to participate in this unique festival, then experiencing the local cuisine with Phu Quoc’s specialties is an activity that tourists cannot miss. Located in the Gulf of Thailand with a long coastline, Phu Quoc is famous as a vast fishing ground, rich in marine resources, with many species of fish and shrimp and precious specialties such as sea cucumber, abalone, blood cockles, and silk clams. Therefore, this island has a unique culinary tradition with dishes such as herring salad, crab blood soup, sea cucumber, Ham Ninh Phu Quoc crab, spiny snails, sea urchins, etc.
Enjoying Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Performances
During the festival, fishing boats cease their fishing activities and anchor densely in the area in front of the Ông Lăng (Ông Temple). Besides local fishermen, fishing boats from other former districts of the old Kiên Giang province operating in the Phú Quốc sea area also participate in the ceremony. Therefore, traditional Southern Vietnamese music performances are specially organized to serve the needs of the people and tourists. This is the simple, unpretentious, and heartfelt essence of the singers conveyed in the songs, and it is also an intangible cultural heritage of the world, embodying the unique identity of Vietnam, which tourists cannot miss.
The significance of the Nam Hai Mausoleum Festival
The Nam Hai Whale Festival is an opportunity for people to relax, find balance in their souls after tiring days of work, and express their gratitude to a sacred creature of the sea. Many fishermen believe in the protection and guidance of the Whale God during times of hardship, bringing peace and good fortune. The Nam Hai Whale Festival is also a spiritual and cultural festival that has been built and preserved for generations. Each time this fishing festival takes place, it reflects the warmth of human connection and the spirit of unity among the people.This deeply rooted belief system and traditional customs deserve to be inherited and promoted by the younger generation.
As a long-standing tradition of the people of Phu Quoc Island, the Nam Hai Mausoleum Festival is not only a spiritual treat for the locals but also a unique cultural feature that attracts many tourists. If you have the opportunity to visit the pearl island during this festival, don’t miss the wonderful festive atmosphere steeped in national cultural identity!
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After attending the Nam Hai Temple Festival, you can take a speedboat to shore at Ha Tien speedboat port – Ha Tien city – to explore more interesting places and spend the night at Ha Tien Vegas, right next to the Ha Tien – Kampong Trach border crossing. This is also a great opportunity to rest before continuing your journey to explore Kampot and Phnom Penh the next day.
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