Dinh Co Festival

Long Hai is a famous seaside village in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, every year from the 10th to 12th of the second lunar month, Dinh Co festival takes place here. One of the biggest festivals of fishermen along the southern coast. According to legend, there was a girl named Le Thi Hong (pronounced Thi Cach) from Phan Rang, on the way through here, the boat encountered a storm, she fell into the sea to die, her body drifted here. People at first buried and set up a small temple, since the temple was built, people here have a lot of luck when going to sea, boats also catch more fish and shrimp. Later, in 1930, people in the area rebuilt and worshiped her as the goddess of the sea, protecting seafarers.

Her festival is held for three days as a way of people to thank her after a year at sea. There are many special activities taking place during the 3 days of the festival such as releasing lanterns, boat racing, lion dance, dragon dance, etc. Dinh Co these days is brightly decorated with lights, flags and flowers. The main ceremony was held on February 12, which is the day of her death, the ceremony took place very solemnly with many rituals. The most special thing about her procession is, from early in the morning people gather in large numbers at Dinh Co to carry out her procession to the ship. The dragon fruit was brought to the ship, which was decorated with colorful flags and flowers. The ship carrying her dragon goes ahead of the train escorting her behind, the ships chosen to escort her are usually seven to ten large fishing boats following, the villagers here believe that the more boats and ships following, the better. That year will be a bountiful fish season, people will have a lot of luck when going to the sea. After finishing the ceremony at the sea, the ship will take her tablet back to the palace. During the festival, a lot of tourists come here to ask her to protect, protect, and pray for peace in life. The festival is not simply a custom of worshiping the mother, but this is a festival combining the festival of praying for fish with the custom of worshiping the sea god. Currently, Dinh Co has been ranked as a national historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. If you come to Vung Tau at this time, do not miss the special festival of fishermen here.