Preserving coastal cultural identity through Phan Thiet's Whale Festival

In addition to prayers for safe sea voyages, the festival plays a vital role in preserving the cultural identity of local fishing communities.

From early morning, the Phan Thiet cargo port was bustling. Fishing vessels and ceremonial boats were decorated with five-element flags, altars, gongs, and drums, while senior fishermen in traditional long robes (Ao dai) and headbands (khan dong) gathered to prepare for the procession. At exactly 7:00 a.m., the fleet departed from the port toward Hon Lao island for traditional rites before returning to the Con Cha inlet.

From there, hundreds of people continued the land procession along streets by the Ca Ty River before returning to Van Thuy Tu Temple to complete the ritual.

The procession of Leng Ong Sanh is associated with the worship of Nam Hai deity (or Ca Ong) among coastal residents. Through the ceremony, fishermen pray for national peace, calm seas, favorable winds, safe voyages, and prosperous catches.

"This festival holds deep significance for us fishermen as a long-standing tradition. On the occasion of the Whale Festival, people pray for peace, business stability, safe sea trips, prosperity, and good fortune," shared Pham Trieu, a fisherman with over 45 years at sea.

Along with the procession, ceremonies at Van Thuy Tu Temple featured traditional ancestor-worship rites, commemorative offerings, and the release of floating lanterns on the Ca Ty River. The festive segment brought the community together through ba trao (paddling) songs, hat boi (classical opera), bai choi folk singing, lion and dragon dances, street arts, and a fair highlighting Phan Thiet cuisine, offering locals and visitors a deeper look into coastal culture and beliefs.

Dao Quang Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phan Thiet Ward, emphasized that conserving the festival must place the fishing community at the center while appropriately integrating tourism.

"The most important thing is that the festival must be organized on the basis of respecting traditional customs and rituals, allowing the fishing community itself to be the main subject. Integrating the festival with tourism is also carried out selectively to ensure both introducing Phan Thiet's coastal cultural identity and preserving the solemnity and original values of the festival," said Dao Quang Thanh.

Amid the urban, service, and coastal tourism development of Lam Dong Province, the fishing communities, Van Thuy Tu Temple, ba trao chants, and the procession on the Ca Ty River serve as a reminder of Phan Thiet’s cultural depth. The Whale Festival thus not only upholds the faith of fishermen before every sea trip, but also continues the soul of a coastal land, allowing those values to be passed down, spread, and contribute to enriching the identity of Lam Dong in its new development space.

VOV