Dinh Co Long Hai Festival

Dinh Co Long Hai Festival: The sea festival season calls fishermen back A national intangible cultural heritage, Dinh Co Long Hai festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people, imbued with the belief in fishing and the expectation of a bountiful sea season. The Dinh Co Long Hai Festival is one of the biggest festivals of fishermen in the Southern region with the meaning of praying for peace and prosperity for the nation and for fishermen to have a favorable sea season. The festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on February 14, 2023. The festival takes place from the 10th - 12th day of the second lunar month every year, this is the time when local fishermen in Long Hai commune (Ho Chi Minh City) in particular and fishermen in many provinces and cities across the country arrange their work to go to Dinh Co to offer incense, worship, and wish for a full year of catching shrimp and fish, boats to go to their destination, and a full life. During festivals, Dinh Co historical and cultural relic site is brightly and solemnly decorated. Fishermen's boats and ships hung gorgeous lights and flowers, focusing on Dinh Co. When night falls, the ships and boats light up the entire sky to express their respect to her, and to pray for blessings and help for boats to have more fish and shrimp. Dinh Co Long Hai Festival belongs to the type of worship of the Mother Goddess - Goddess, and is also a combination of the Fisherman's Festival with the custom of worshiping the Sea God (Ba Thuy Long, whale). Legend has it that 2 centuries ago, a virgin named Le Thi Hong (also known as Thi Cach), from Tam Quan, Binh Dinh, often followed her father to the Ba Ria and Go Cong areas to do business and loved the scenery and people, and did not want to leave the southern land. She was very compassionate, but unfortunately had an accident at Hon Hang while following her father to the sea. At that time, she had just turned 16 years old. Local fishermen buried her on Co Son hill and set up a shrine on the beach. To thank the fishermen, she appeared many times, gave good omens in dreams, and supported the fishermen, so she was called Long Hai Goddess by the fishermen, thereby further embellishing the temple and worshiping the temple, proclaimed as: "Long Hai Goddess of Bao An, Integrity, Nuong Nhi Chi Than". Dinh Co Long Hai Festival is held every year. The return ceremony consists of two parts. The ceremony includes traditional rituals. As for the festival, there are many unique cultural, artistic, and sports activities, giving visitors interesting experiences at Dinh Co Long Hai beach and the stage in front of Dinh Co. The most prominent are the festival's opening art program, the beach kite flying contest, the stage re-enactment of the history of the formation of Dinh Co historical-cultural relics and scenic spots, and performances of amateur music, ancient songs, lion and dragon performances... During the festival season, Dinh Co attracts about 200 - 300 thousand people and tourists to offer incense, worship, visit and have fun. This is considered the "golden season" of local tourism. This year, the festival takes place on the weekend so it is expected to attract a large number of people to participate. In 2026, the Dinh Co Long Hai Festival takes place from March 27 - March 30. For this year's Dinh Co festival, the local government of Long Hai commune is urgently carrying out preparations from rituals, to ensuring fire prevention and fighting, rescue, food safety and hygiene, and environmental sanitation so that the festival takes place safely, solemnly, in accordance with local customs and practices. Dinh Co Festival is a valuable heritage of Long Hai commune in particular and Ho Chi Minh City in general, handed down and maintained through many generations, meeting the spiritual needs in the lives of people, especially Long Hai fishermen, and at the same time a beauty that attracts a large number of visitors.