Unique 400-year-old whale worshiping ritual in Vietnam

Canh Duong village is home to roughly 7,000 fishing boats. Local fishermen hold the annual ritual in order to express their gratitude for nature along with their strong desire to enjoy both a peaceful and prosperous life.

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Their faith encourages people to endure difficulties and rely on the sea for their livelihood. The ritual takes place on the 15th day of the first lunar month annually.

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This year sees the event limit gatherings as a means of preventing the potential the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The highlight of the festival is the worshipping of the whale skeletons which are kept intact at the Whale Worshiping Shrine in Canh Duong village.

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The shrine is closely associated with the legend of Mr and Mrs Whale who saved fishermen from heavy storms before floating ashore to Canh Duong and dying. Two giant whale skeletons which are both the biggest and oldest in Vietnam have been kept and worshiped at the shrine for the past 200 years.