Dinh Co temple is the venue for annual Dinh Co Festival (Photo: ittpa.baria-vungtau.gov.vn)

According to legend, two centuries ago, a virgin named Le Thi Hong (aka Thi Cach) from Tam Quan, now Binh Dinh province, followed her father to Ba Ria and Go Cong for trading, and quickly fell in love with the local scenery and people. The kind-hearted girl did not want to leave the southern land but unfortunately, she  died during one of her fishing trips with her father when she was only 16 years old. Local fishermen buried her on Co Son Hill and built a temple on the beach to worship her. She is believed to help fishermen stay away from diseases and keep them safe at sea. In 1930, Long Hai fishermen moved the temple to Ky Van Mountain, where Dinh Co is located to this day. Every year the Dinh Co Festival is solemnly celebrated here.

From early morning on the 12th day of the second lunar month, boats head out to sea for the welcome ceremony. The best seafaring boat of the year is chosen to lead the procession. On the boat, apart from the worshipers, there is a pedestal dedicated to the female deity. 

With the sound of drums reverberating throughout the air, the fleet of boats set out to sea in a chain. After traveling about 2 to 3 nautical miles, they arrive at the spot where the deity perished, and the chief worshiper begins the ceremony to welcome  her and other deities and ancestors back to the temple.

During the Dinh Co-Long Hai Festival, the temple is stunningly decorated. Local families prepare offerings and fishing vessels are adorned with lanterns and flowers, all turn their bow to the temple in honor of the deity. Tran Quoc Nhan is Vice Chairman of Long Hai Town’s People’s Committee. “The Dinh Co Festival is an opportunity for people to pray for peace, favorable weather, and a bountiful catch. As the festival has been recognized as a national cultural festival, it will be held on a larger scale next year.”

The performance of Ba Trao singing at Dinh Co – Long Hai Festival (Photo: ittpa.baria-vungtau.gov.vn)

Apart from traditional rituals, the Dinh Co festival includes many activities, such as the performance of Don Ca Tai Tu (amateur singing), kite flying, volleyball, fishing and net making competitions. Ho Ngoc Giao, deputy head of Long Dien district’s tourism area management board, said: “This is the first time that the Dinh Co kite flying festival has been held. We will focus more on festive activities to lure visitors.”

In 1995, Dinh Co temple was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).

After two centuries of preservation and promotion, the Dinh Co Festival was added to the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in February this year. Lam Van Hong, Chairman of Long Dien District People’s Committee, said: “The recognition is a great honor for us. It will motivate local people to better preserve and promote the festival. Further investment will be made to improve the scale and quality of the festival to attract more tourists.”

This year, the festival drew more than 100,000 local people and visitors who came to pay homage to the female deity and pray for happiness and prosperity.