As the opening event of the Hue Summer Festival 2026, it drew thousands of locals and visitors to a solemn yet exciting community cultural event.
The festival is a religious and cultural practice associated with the worship of the Mother Goddess Thien Y A Na. While rooted in folk beliefs, it blends cultural elements of the Hue royal court. In 2025, the festival was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Ngo Thi Thanh Ty, a local follower, said: "The Mother Goddess belief teaches compassion, mutual support, and moral values. Followers are encouraged to love and help others, to guide those who come after them, and to live with virtue, filial piety, and gratitude."
A highlight of the festival is the procession of the Mother Goddess over land and river routes. After ceremonies at a shrine on Chi Lang street, the procession moves through city streets before boarding boats and traveling upstream along the Perfume River to Hue Nam Temple on Ngoc Tran mountain in Hai Cat village.
Dozens of boats decorated with flags and flowers, accompanied by the sound of drums and gongs, create a vivid “living stage” on the water that showcases the unique cultural imprint of Hue.
This ritual embodies the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship of the Three Realms, an intangible cultural heritage inscribed by UNESCO.
Artisan Le Van Ngo, head of the Hue Nam Temple Heritage Sponsorship Board, said: "The festival honors the first Mother of the Vietnamese people, Âu Cơ. We hope the festival will make Mother Goddess followers more aware of our cultural identity and tangible and intangible heritage."
The Hue Nam Temple Festival, held twice a year, in the third and seventh lunar months, attracts a large number of followers and domestic and foreign visitors.
Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Hue Department of Culture and Sports, said: "This year’s festival was a great success. All activities proceeded on schedule and made a strong impression on everyone."
The Hue Nam Temple Festival is a distinctive cultural symbol of Hue. Preserving and promoting its values reinforces national identity and boosts local tourism.
