Festivals Mekong Vietnam

RICE FESTIVAL IN MEKONG DELTA
Being the greatest rice basket of Vietnam, Mekong Delta deserves to be the symbol of Vietnam Rice. Due to the importance of Mekong Delta in producing rice, it was chosen to be the organizer of Vietnam Rice Festival. Travel Indochina Vietnam
Held every two year, Vietnam Rice Festival aims at glorifying the commodity which makes Vietnam in general and Mekong Delta in particular known as a leading rice-exporting country.
Vietnam Rive Festival was organized two times in Mekong Delta: the first time in Hau Giang from November 28 to December 2, 2009 and the second time in Soc Trang from November 8 to 14, 2011.
With the aim of honoring and promoting Vietnam Rice, many seminars on how to introduce Vietnam rice to the global market took place during the festival. Besides, there are many interesting activities: displays, exhibitions and scientific workshops about wet-rice cultivation as well as photography contest. Mekong delta cruise

Vietnam Rice Festival is not only an opportunity for enterprises to exchanges experience in producing and trading Vietnam rice, introduce new technologies and products to consumers and potential business partners but also a great chance to promote tourism in Mekong Delta. Therefore, organizers of Vietnam Rice Festival also focus on introducing culture of Mekong Delta through traditional and cultural activities.
In the opening and ending ceremony of Vietnam Rice Festival, there are many attractive art performances honoring Vietnam Rice and Vietnamese farmers. The process of wet rice cultivation is vividly described by graceful dances in bustling music. Besides, Vietnam Rice Festival took place at the same time with Khmer people’s Water Festival with many traditional activities of boat race, qualified rice contest, “Miss Countryside” competition, so on.
OK OM BOK FESTIVAL IN MEKONG DELTA
Ok Om Bok is a traditional festival of Khmer people in Mekong Delta. Being one of the three biggest festivals of Khmer people, Ok Om Bok has sacred meaning in spiritual life of these people, making a cultural characteristic of this ethnic community.
Ok Om Bok Festival takes place on the Full Moon day of the tenth month in Vietnamese Lunar Calendar, aiming at worshipping the Moon. In Khmer’s conception, it is the ending day in the circle of the moon spinning around the earth and the ending time of a harvest. Hence, Ok Om Bok Festival aims at expressing gratitude to the Moon for protecting and promoting an abundant crop as well as wishing for the next successful harvest.
At the night of the Full Moon day, Khmer people set up a table of offerings: new sticky rice, yam, coconuts, bananas, sweeties, so on. At the centre of the table, there is always a pot of tea. After each time of pouring tea into the glass, Khmer people bow their head one time to show their thanks to the Moon. After that, there is a colorful and sparkling lanterns ceremony on Ba Om Lake. Khmer people not only drop these lanterns on the lake but also fly them to the sky. Dozens of great lantern lighten the night sky in bustling music and the joy of Khmer people. Khmer people believe that these lanterns will bring bad luck and risk far away. Every year, this colorful ceremony attracts thousands of viewers including both locals and tourists.
The most attractive and exciting activity of Ok Om Bok Festival is “Ngo” race (a special kind of boat of Khmer people in shape of Nagar snake). Ngo race is a traditional sport of Khmer in Ok Om Bok Festival. Ngo is a long boat with 25-30 meters in length and 1 – 1.4 meter in width. There are about 40 to 60 boatmen in every “Ngo’ with a leader at the top to guide the whole team. Before the race, people gather along the riverbanks making an exciting atmosphere. During the race, the boisterous sound of drum, trumpet, cheers and applause urge boatmen row as fast as possible to the end. “Ghe Ngo” race is a unique cultural activity of Khmer people which has sacred meaning in spiritual life of community.
Overall, Ok Om Bok is an important festival in Khmer people’s life. It becomes the symbol of aspiration, beautiful soul and rich emotional life of people to supernatural forces. Ok Om Bok festival not only contributes to conserve and promote traditional cultural identity of Khmer community but also a unique tourism product to attract visitors.
COCONUT FESTIVALS IN BEN TRE
Every Vietnamese at least once listens to the song "Dang dung Ben Tre" (Ben Tre girl's posture). Throughout the song, the image of coconut trees has become the symbol of this heroic land. Due to the importance of coconut in material as well as spiritual life of people in Ben Tre, since 2009, there has been Coconut Festival.
As compared to other provinces in Mekong Delta, Ben Tre does not have many as festivals. However, Coconut Festival is a unique festival associating with characteristics of Ben Tre. Taking place every two year in the first month, Coconut Festival is a great chance for tourists to understand about history, culture, ecosystem, handicraft, old architectural works as well as feel the simple but effervescent lifestyle of people here.
During the festival, there are many exciting activities: art performances of imitating the foundation, development and self-defense of Ben Tre; festival of traditional villages, contest of products made from coconuts; trade fair, so on.
Coming to Coconut Festival, tourists will enjoy an ebullient and enthusiastic atmosphere. There are a variety of stalls introducing traditional products of craft villages such as coconut jam, coconut candies, dishes made of coconut. Besides, tourists will be amazed by extremely sophisticated and eye-catching products made of coconuts with the skillful hand of artisans: colorful carpets, nice baskets, and other amazing handicraft.
Coconut Festival also honors creations, talents and passion of artisans making valuable products from coconuts. Besides, this also a great chance for Ben Tre to introduce eco-tourism potential, economic prospect as well as historical and cultural sites. Joining in this festival, tourists not only have chance to witness various products made from coconut but also taste delicious delicacies of Ben Tre in particular and Mekong Delta in general.
Besides, there will be many exciting traditional art performances of Cai Luong singing, drum performance and traditional games such as tug of war, martial arts, hessian jump, banging pots, etc. Especially, there is a small carnival of imitating characters in “Luc Van Tien” (a famous long poem of Nguyen Dinh Chieu poet – a talent child of Ben Tre).
Coconut Festival is a unique and characterized cultural and community activities of Ben Tre – the homeland of green rows of coconuts, gorgeous and charming girls and friendly and heroic people.