The festival has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as part of the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The 2026 traditional Cau Ngu Festival opened today (March 6) at Ha Khe Beach Park in Thanh Khe ward, Da Nang City. For generations of coastal fishermen, the festival is the most important event of the year, expressing hopes for calm seas, smooth voyages and plentiful catches.

The festival takes place over three days, featuring traditional rituals and various cultural activities. The ceremonial section includes the Nghinh Than ritual, a sea ceremony welcoming Nam Hai Thuong Dang Than, the Whale Deity, the flag dance ritual, the Cau An ritual praying for peace and a thanksgiving ritual.

The festival section features traditional folk activities typical of coastal fishing communities, including basket boat spinning competitions, net-pulling contests, fish-carrying contests, painting activities, tuong (classical opera) performances and bai choi singing.

Within the festival framework, exhibitions and display spaces are organized under the theme “Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam.” Local OCOP (One Commune One Product) stalls, regional cuisine stalls, and demonstrations of sailing boats and SUP boards are also featured.

The Cau Ngu Festival helps preserve spiritual beliefs, traditional cultural and historical values and artistic heritage, while affirming Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty.

Le Van Le, 82, head of the festival ritual committee in Thanh Khe ward, expressed pride in the long-standing tradition of coastal fishermen.

“The Cau Ngu Festival is a long-standing tradition passed down through generations. For people who make their living from the sea, this ceremony is very important. We pray for favorable weather, abundant catches, peace, good health and prosperity,” he said.

The Cau Ngu Festival is one of the oldest traditional festivals and a distinctive cultural tradition of coastal communities in central Vietnam, particularly fishing villages along the coast of Da Nang. The festival is associated with the whale worship belief practiced in coastal villages and developed from the region’s spiritual and cultural history, reflecting the daily life and practices of fishermen in coastal fishing villages.

For fishermen, Cau Ngu is the largest festival of the year, dedicated to praying for favorable weather, safe voyages and abundant catches.

The Cau Ngu Festival in Da Nang has been included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Thanh Khe ward in Da Nang plans to further develop the festival into a distinctive tourism attraction, serving residents and visitors while promoting the image of the city as a dynamic coastal destination rich in tradition and maritime culture.

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