The first steps into the rice fields not only heralded the planting season, but also reawakened a cultural space preserved by generations of island residents.
From five in the morning, farmers from Phong Coc and Lien Hoa Wards descended upon the fields, carrying offerings and young rice seedlings in preparation for planting, inaugurating a new crop.
Following a solemn incense-offering ceremony to the God of Agriculture, farmers planted the first young rice seedlings, commencing one of the most important rice crops of the year.
This is not merely an agricultural ritual, but also a vibrant cultural space where farming beliefs, the tradition of “When drinking water, remember its source”, and a strong spirit of community solidarity have been nurtured over generations.
The field-opening festival is held every year in early June of the lunar calendar before the summer-autumn rice planting season. The event was enshrined on the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2024.
For many years, the people of Ha Nam themselves have served as the “guardians of the festival’s soul”, from preparing offerings and organising rituals to participating in festive activities, all of which bear an indelible community imprint. Notably, most of the funding for the festival is mobilised through contributions from local residents, businesses, and other social resources.
Ngo Dinh Dung, Vice Chairman of the Phong Coc Ward People’s Committee, affirmed that the field-opening festival on Ha Nam Island carries profound significance in the spiritual and cultural life of people in Phong Coc and neighbouring communes and wards. It is a form of folk cultural activity with elements of indigenous belief, reflecting the identity of the local farming community.
This year’s festival unfolded over two days, from July 18 to 19, corresponding to the fifth and sixth days of the sixth lunar month.
