Thăk Côn Festival brings the spiritual heritage of Khmer culture to Hanoi

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The Thăk Côn Festival is an important traditional celebration in the cultural and spiritual life of the Khmer community, expressing hopes for peace, favourable weather, bountiful harvests and a happy life while reinforcing community solidarity.

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The festival is not only distinctive for its vibrant and lively atmosphere, but also for its unique spiritual rituals rooted in fascinating legends passed down through generations.

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On August 23, artisans from Can Tho brings the Thăk Côn Festival to life at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, celebrating this precious Khmer intangible cultural heritage as part of an August programme themed “Journey to the Mekong Delta through Khmer Culture.”

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Each year, as the third lunar month reaches its midpoint, Khmer families in An Hiep Village, An Ninh Commune, Can Tho City, joyfully welcome the days of the Thăk Côn Festival.

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Held over three consecutive days, from the 15th to the 17th days of the third lunar month, the distinctive cultural festival draws large crowds of Khmer communities from surrounding phum sóc settlements as well as visitors from near and far.

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The Thăk Côn Festival is closely tied to a sacred folk legend that has been passed down through generations and is deeply rooted in the Khmer community.

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The recreation programme offers the public a glimpse into traditional rituals such as alms-giving, the flag-raising ceremony that marks the opening of the festival, ceremonial chanting and the Coconut Offering ceremony, alongside offerings of flowers, fruits, betel and areca nuts and other sacred items.

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The ceremonial chants express wishes for favourable weather, bountiful harvests, peace and happiness, while the farewell ritual, ash sprinkling and cultural and artistic activities help bring the festival’s distinctive spiritual setting to life.

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The rituals include Krông Pali, a ceremony honouring the Earth Deity; Đăk Bath, in which food is offered to monks; the Sla Tho coconut offering for peace and blessings; and traditional dances and songs dedicated to Kru Kôông-Chey.

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Together with Buddhist rituals, these practices highlight how spiritual life, traditional beliefs and agriculture are deeply intertwined in Khmer culture.

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The recreation programme brings together artisans, Achar, Buddhist monks and performers from the Khmer Art Troupe of Can Tho City.

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The programme also brings together the Khmer community and people from other ethnic groups who regularly gather at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.

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Beyond the Thăk Côn Festival, the programme also featured cultural exchanges and performances of ngũ âm music, Sa dăm drums, Rom Vong dancing, đờn ca tài tử and other traditional folk arts.

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Visitors can experience making cốm dẹp, a traditional Khmer specialty made from young rice, interact with artisans and discover images and products showcasing Can Tho as a tourist destination.

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Visitors can also discover the culinary flavours of the Mekong Delta through local specialties such as bánh xèo, a crispy savoury crepe, and bánh cống, a deep-fried savoury cake.

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Passed down through generations, the Thăk Côn Festival has evolved beyond a folk ritual into a strong bond that unites the community, expressing hopes for a peaceful life and reminding people of the moral balance between good and evil.

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The continued preservation of this heritage is a vivid reminder that Southern Khmer culture is vibrant and resilient in a rapidly changing and increasingly connected world.

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The event also gives Khmer cultural practitioners an opportunity to practice, perform and share their community’s traditional heritage with Hanoi residents and visitors.

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With its rich historical and spiritual values preserved across generations, the festival has been inscribed on the national list of intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.