Khmer people celebrate “moon-worshipping” festival
Thousands of residents and monks from 142 local Khmer pagodas took part in Ok-Om-Bok (worshipping the moon) festival at Ao Ba Om (Madam Om Pond) relic site in southern Tra Vinh province on November 25
A“ngo” boat (local traditional boat) race of Khmer people. (Source: VNA)
Tra Vinh (VNA) – Thousands of residents and monks from 142 local Khmer pagodas took part in Ok-Om-Bok (worshipping the moon) festival at Ao Ba Om (Madam Om Pond) relic sꦡite in southern Tra Vinh province on November 25 night.
The festival was recognised as part of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism last year.
Speaking at the event’s opening, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Kim Ngoc Thai said he hopes that the province’s authority and people would continue preserving unique values of the Ok-Om-Bok festival, contributing to the development of an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with traditional characteristics.
Ok-Om-Bok is one of the three main festivals of Khmer people – along with Sene Dolta and Chol Chnam Thmay – which takes place under the full moon in the 10th lunar month annually. The Khmer believe the moon is a God who controls the weather and crops throughout the year.
On this occasion, Khmer people provide offerings to thank the God’s blessing for favourable weather and their bountiful crops.
At this year’s festival, the moon-offering rituals were recreated on stage by Anh Binh Minh Khmer art troupe.
Previously, a series of events also took place to celebrate the festival, including a fair on trade, industry and agriculture, “ngo” boat (local traditional boat) races between teams from local districts and communes, a volleyball tournament and folk games.-VNA
The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is undertaking maximum efforts to preserve and develop the unique cultures of its ethnic minorities, who make up 14.5 percent of the local population.
The southern province of Tra Vinh celebrated Ok Om Bok festival, and received the certificate of the recognition of the moon worshipping ritual of the Khmer ethnic minority group as the national intangible cultural heritage on November 6.
A “Ngo” boat race commenced in Xang Xa No Canal, Vi Thanh city, Hau Giang province on November 28 as part of the 6th Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival of the Khmer ethnic people in southern Vietnam.
A host of events were scheduled to celebrate ethnic Khmer people’s Ok-Om-Bok (worshipping the moon) festival in southern Tra Vinh province from November 20 to 25.
Fifty-five teams from Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Kien Giang provinces participated in the Long Boat Race Festival of the Khmer people in Soc Trang province from November 23 to 25.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
A“ngo” boat (local traditional boat) race of Khmer people. (Source: VNA)
