As the fifth lunar month arrives, coastal villages in Hoa Hiep ward come alive as preparations get underway for the Whale Worship Festival. Beyond a traditional occasion to pray for calm seas, abundant catches and safe fishing voyages, the 2026 festival is expected to evolve into a distinctive community-based cultural as well as tourism event, helping preserve and promote the unique heritage of coastal communities.

In coordination with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, local authorities have transformed the Whale Worship Festival from a traditional folk belief event into a cultural programme reflecting the unique identity of coastal villages, creating a distinctive attraction along the provincial eastern coastal tourism corridor.

Whale Worship Festival in Hoa Hiep ward.

From June 22 - 26, Hoa Hiep ward will host a series of activities themed “Essence of coastal heritage”. While preserving traditional rituals, this year’s festival will also expand into a community cultural space aimed at promoting the local identity, attracting visitors while creating momentum for economic development.

For local residents, the spiritual rituals remain the heart of the festival through generations. At whale temples across the ward, ceremonies are conducted solemnly to express gratitude to the sea and faith in the protection of Ong Nam Hai, the Whale God, for those whose livelihoods depend on marine resources.

Mr. Le Xuan Thuy, a resident of Phu Tho 2 quarter, said: “For coastal communities, the Whale Worship Festival is an indispensable cultural tradition. We hope future generations will continue safeguarding alongside passing down this heritage just as our ancestors did”.

While previous editions mainly centred on ceremonial activities, this year’s festival will offer visitors a wider range of cultural experiences. A highlight is the artistic programme “Essence of coastal heritage”, scheduled for the evening of June 26, recreating the cultural space of a fishing village through traditional Tuong performances combined with modern staging technologies.

A ritual performed during the Whale Worship Festival in Hoa Hiep ward.

The festival space will also be expanded diverse experiential activities. At the “Lang Lo” check-in site, visitors can explore traditional occupations closely associated with coastal life, including net weaving, fish sauce production and seafood processing. Other highlights include beach sports, Bai Choi performances, together with exhibition spaces showcasing OCOP products and local specialties.

According to comrade Huynh Nguyen Ngoc Giang, the Deputy Secretary of the Ward Party Committee and Chairman of the Ward People’s Committee, the locality aims to gradually develop the Whale Worship Festival into a signature cultural coupled with tourism product. Beyond heritage preservation, the festival also helps promote the local identity, creates opportunities to market local producs, supports service-sector development and improves residents’ incomes.

Translated by KHUONG THAO