9 Most Interesting Festivals in Phu Quoc

1. Nghinh Ong Festival

Nghinh Ong festival is the biggest and most famous traditional festival in Phu Quoc. The festival is held on the 15th and 16th Aug lunar month every year to honor “Lord of the fish”, also known as the Nam Hai Navy. Like fishermen in other regions of the country, fishermen in Phu Quoc island commemorate the sacred sea god, who always protects them from storms at sea. This festival is an opportunity for the fishermen here to remember the "Lord Ca Ong", pray for calm waves, favorable rain, and wind so that they can catch a lot of fish and shrimp, and have a better life.

The ritual of Nghinh Ong festival in Phu Quoc is divided into two parts: the ceremony and the festival. The ceremony includes procession and sacrifice. During the ceremony, people will carry the Nghinh Ong palanquin from the sea to the mausoleum. To welcome the Nghinh Ong, there will be offerings from the fishermen, as well as lion dances, the dragon boat procession along the way. The liturgy part formally takes place after the procession with traditional etiquette. Finally, people will dance and celebrate the festival happily.

Nghinh Ong Festival

2. Nguyen Trung Truc Festival

Nguyen Trung Truc Festival is another famous festival in Phu Quoc, which has been held since the temple was built in 1996. The festival annually takes place from the 27th of August in the lunar calendar at Nguyen Trung Truc temple located in Ganh Dau commune, nearly 40km from the center of Phu Quoc island district.

This festival is meant to contribute to preserving and promoting the cultural and historical values ​​of the nation, honoring and recognizing the merits of heroes who have sacrificed for the cause of national construction and defense. In addition, the festival also shows the morality of remembering the merits of predecessors, educating the revolutionary tradition for the present and future generations. The festival is divided into 2 parts: a solemn ceremony and a bustling festival with cultural programs and extremely unique folk games.

Nguyen Trung Truc Festival

3. Dinh Ba Ong Lang Festival

Located about 7 kilometers from Duong Dong Town in Ong Lang Hamlet, Cua Duong Commune is Dinh Ba Ong Lang temple, which worships the wife of Nguyen Trung Truc (Nguyễn Trung Trực) leader – Kim Giao. This is the place where locals on Phu Quoc Island can pray for peace, health, and happiness.

The temple welcomes many tourists coming to pray on the 18th and 19th of the first lunar month when the festival is celebrated. Tourists and local people come to burn incense and pray for a year of peace, happiness, luck, and prosperity. Not only the old but also the young and couples visit Dinh Ba Ong Lang Festival to pray for eternal happiness. The festival is the place where tourists can learn more about the cultural and historical values of Vietnam, take part in many exciting activities and games. Moreover, joining the festival, you can enjoy vegetarian dishes and Phu Quoc’s specialties, or stand at Dinh Ba (Dinh Bà) Temple to admire the beautiful beach and white long sand.

Dinh Ba Ong Lang Festival

4. Dinh Than Duong Dong Festival

Duong Dong Dinh Than Festival is a typical cultural feature of the people of Phu Quoc. The festival is held in Duong Dong Dinh Than temple, which was built in 1959, and restored in 1991. It is held on the 10th and 11th the first month of the lunar calendar to commemorate those who established villages. Although it is only local, this festival has been growing and presenting the beliefs and cultural characteristics of the coastal people.

On the day of the festival, villagers gather at the temple to pray for lush crops, peace, happiness, and prosperity. Coming to the festival, participants can also enjoy the unique cultural performances of the Islanders, or taste the delicious local food.

Dinh Than Duong Dong

5. Trai Dan Festival Sung Hung Co Tu

Trai Dan Sung Hung Co Tu festival is held on July 30 of the lunar calendar every year at Sung Hung pagoda near Dinh Cau. The pagoda was built at the end of the 19 century, but still retains its own character and sacred value.

The festival impresses participants with the folk design style, the statue of Quan Am Nam Hai, the shrine of Chua Xu, the statue of Nguyen Trung Truc … On the festival day, there is a great ceremony of Trai Dam with rituals such as Dong Dan, Cong Phu, Thieu Dien Thuong Gian …Besides, coming here, you can taste the vegetarian dishes that are served by the Buddhists and the people.

Sung Hung Co Tu

6. Dinh Cau Festival

Dinh Cau is not only one of the beautiful beaches in Phu Quoc, but it is also the place where many special festivals take place. Dinh Cau festival which is held on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month every year is the most popular festival on that beach. The festival helps with the meaning of praying for peace and a good harvest for fishermen in the sea. Many tourists know about the festival and enjoy taking part in the festival.

This festival is also divided into two parts, the ceremony part, and the festival part. The ceremony part was held on the grounds of Dinh Cau. Many people gather to give offerings and pay their respects to the gods. They also pray for a year of favorable weather, calm waves, and bountiful crops. The festival has many exciting games and contests attracting a large number of people as well as tourists coming to join. Popular games at the festival are racing boats, walking on stilts, catching ducks in the sea, ...

Dinh Cau Festival

7. Traditional Boat Racing Festival

Traditional boat racing festival in Phu Quoc is held annually in Dinh Cau beach on 30^th April. The festival shows a very unique and traditional cultural activity of the inhabitants of Phu Quoc island district, attracting a lot of participants including locals and tourists. It not only helps Phu Quoc promote traditional culture but also promotes the tourism of the island.

On the festival day, there are many teams participating. Each team consists of about 10 people sitting on a racing boat 5-7m long. When the game starts, there is a competitive atmosphere for the racing teams. The teams try their best to win, the audience gets excited. Boat racing festival is also a place for people to exercise their body and will, challenge their endurance, and create motivation for everyone to strive together to do business and build a richer and stronger homeland.

Traditional Boat Racing Festival

8. Nam Hai Tomb Festival 

Nam Hai Tomb Festival is another special festival in Phu Quoc. It is held on the 15th day of the second lunar month every year in Quarter 9, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc. Local people come here to pray for favorable weather, and luck for the fishermen, while tourists are interested in the traditional folk songs and games.

Like other festivals in Phu Quoc, it has a ceremony and a festival part. The ceremony part of this festival is held to express gratitude to Ca Ong, the predecessors and late sages who discovered this island. Local people also pray for the calm sea and lucky things to the fishermen. The festival is exciting with folk songs and games.

Nam Hai Tomb Festival 

9. Thuy Long Thanh Mau Festival

Thuy Long Thanh Mau is the god of water, who is believed to be the first one to explore the island. She is highly respected by the people of Phu Quoc. Therefore, local people built Dinh Ba Thuy Long Thanh Mau on Vo Thi Sau street, Duong Dong town to worship her.

Every year, on the full moon day of the first lunar month, Phu Quoc people will gather at Dinh Ba to make sacrifices. Coming to Thuy Long Thanh Mau Festival, tourists can understand more about the history of the island as well wish for the best things happening in the year.

Thuy Long Thanh Mau

Festival is an essential part of locals’ life to fight against natural disasters and risks. It also reflects the hope of fishermen and locals for an abundance of fish and a successful business season. When on the island, it is great if you can join the festival and pray for a better life for yourselves. Therefore, do not hesitate to plan a trip to Phu Quoc next holiday vacation. 

Read also: Top 15 Best Places to Visit in Phu Quoc

Jenny

Image source: Internet