Ba Chua Xu Temple festival

Ba Chua Xu Temple, along with Tay An pagoda, Hang pagoda, and Thoai Ngoc Hau tomb, are located on Sam mountain five kilometres from Chau Doc in An Giang province.

The festival of Ba Chua Xu, also called Via Ba ceremony, is held from the night of the 23^rd to the 27^th of the fourth lunar month.

On the night of the 23^rd, Ba Chua Xu statue is bathed and dressed. The bathing water is perfumed and the old clothes are torn into small pieces that are distributed to pilgrims. They are considered as lucky charms and keep the possessor in good health and drive away evil spirits.

At midnight on 25^th, the Tuc Yen ritual takes place. It is an imposing procession including dragon dances and banners. The imperial chair is taken to Thoai Ngoc Hau tomb for a chanting ritual before being taken back to Ba Chua Xu Temple.

One man from the village who is especially keen on ritual formalities, is selected to perform the Duc Boi ceremony. He is accompanied by choir singing for good weather and a prosperous country. The Via Ba ceremony attracts a lot of people who pray for a better future as well as admire the beautiful scenery in An Giang.