A bustling festival, spreading the vitality of the sea

The impressive opening night of the Nghinh Ong Can Gio festival ( Ho Chi Minh City) was the art program that truly touched the hearts of the people and tourists. The program included special performances of vọng cổ music, hát bội, hát ba trao, dances... The coastal space of Cần Giờ became brilliant, where folk art and modern technology blended together to create a unique cultural picture of fishermen in the coastal area.

Art performance at the Can Gio Whale Festival.

At the art program, the musical performance "Oh Salt" (composed by musician Pham Hong Bien) left a deep impression on the audience. With the emotional performance of singers and artists, the performance vividly recreated the working life of fishermen at sea, while depicting the image of Whale - the sacred god who always protects and blesses those who go to sea to return safely. In particular, the local rowing troupe brought a unique performance of Nghinh Ong, vividly introducing the folk performing art form. The bustling drum beats and the echoing singing in the deep blue sky of Can Gio sea created a sacred and ancient atmosphere. Each performance was not only a performance, but also the soul of the entire fishing community.

Art performance at the Can Gio Whale Festival.

The art program not only demonstrates creativity in organizing traditional festivals, but also contributes to arousing love for the homeland and islands in each person's heart, promoting the image of Can Gio to friends near and far.

The 2025 Can Gio Whale Festival will be even more explosive with more than 20 diverse activities in the festival. From sports to culture, art, and commerce, all will take place enthusiastically, attracting tens of thousands of participants.

Art performance at the Can Gio Whale Festival.

On the coastal route, the Green Marathon attracted a large number of young athletes to participate, running through the roads filled with green. In parallel, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cycling Race gathered hundreds of cyclists to compete fiercely amid the bustling cheers.

At all levels in Can Gio commune, traditional fishing games such as tug of war, stick pushing, blindfolded pot smashing, net weaving competition, etc. create a unique indigenous cultural color. Children eagerly participate in the "Full Moon Festival" - a meaningful activity on the occasion of Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing laughter, clear eyes, continuing the love for the homeland from the younger generation.

Art performance at the Can Gio Whale Festival.

In addition, OCOP booths, displaying seafood products, folk cuisine , photo and artifact exhibitions... have attracted many tourists to explore, experience and connect with local product consumption.

Spreading love for the sea and islands of the Fatherland

Not only a cultural festival, the Can Gio Whale Festival is also a lively forum to affirm the importance of the sea and islands in the cause of protecting and developing the country. In the festival space, many propaganda activities on sea and island sovereignty, mangrove forest conservation, marine economic development, and climate change response are organized visually, attractively, raising public awareness.

Folk games of the coastal region at the Nghinh Ong festival in Can Gio.

Sharing at the festival, comrade Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee emphasized: "The festival is an opportunity to strengthen the great national unity, connect generations, educate the young generation about the tradition of loving the profession, loving the sea, loving the Fatherland. We identify the preservation and promotion of marine cultural identity as a key factor in the sustainable development of Can Gio sea area in particular and Ho Chi Minh City in general".

Fishermen with achievements were rewarded by the People's Committee of Can Gio Commune, Ho Chi Minh City.

Although in the modern social life, Nghinh Ong festival still retains its sacred value, is the place to return to the consciousness of fishermen in the sea. Each ritual, each song, each game is not only a joy but also a source of culture continuing from the ancestors, nurturing love for homeland, country, love for the sea in each person.

Attractive coastal folk games.

Recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Can Gio Whale Festival is not only a cultural event, but also a symbol of the strong bond between humans and nature, between tradition and modernity, between the people and the country.

In the echoes of the festival, the sound of the drums resonates in people's hearts like a call: Every citizen, every soldier must be a "Soldier at the forefront", preserving the national soul intact in the stormy land - where every shore, every wave is imbued with patriotism and national pride.

Comrade Nguyen Van Dung added: “The Can Gio Whale Festival not only practically improves people's lives, develops tourism, preserves and sustainably develops an advanced culture imbued with national identity, but is also an opportunity to build solidarity, enhance the sense of responsibility of all levels, sectors and people in building a sustainable coastal homeland, contributing to firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.”

Article and photos: LE TIEN - PHUC HUNG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/dac-sac-le-hoi-nghinh-ong-can-gio-849358