Fishermen’s festival in Can Gio

The practise of worshipping and staging a procession for a whale is popular among fishermen in the coastal areas that stretch from central Vietnam to the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

The fishermen’s festival in Ho Chi Minh City is celebrated in the commune of Can Thanh, Can Gio district on the 14^th day of the eighth lunar month.

All fishermen stop catching fish on this day in order to attend the festival while the shrines, harbour and boats are all beautifully decorated. The festival is divided into three stages: Le Ruoc Ong (worshipping the memory of ancestors), an offering period (roast white pork, colourful steamed sticky-rice wine and tea) and then the main worshipping ceremony.