Unique features of the 2026 Ong Quan Thanh De Quan Festival procession

Unique cultural space

The Ong procession is a ritual in which the spirit tablet of Ong is carried through various streets and taken to the four Chinese assembly halls in Phan Thiet: the Cantonese, Fujian, Teochew and Hainan assembly halls.

"Ong" here refers to Guan Yu (Quan Công), a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period, who is described in historical records as a figure possessing both literary and martial prowess and embodying many noble virtues.

Starting at 5:00 a.m., the Ong procession set out from Quan De Temple with numerous participants in elaborate costumes, parading along streets in Phan Thiet such as Tran Phu, Nguyen Hue, Dinh Tien Hoang, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, and passing the Cantonese Assembly Hall.

Along the procession route, each assembly hall showcased its own distinctive performances, from court and fan dances to flower-basket processions, lion, dragon and unicorn dances, and martial arts displays. With drums, traditional music, colorful flags, floral decorations and elaborate costumes, the performances created a vibrant cultural atmosphere across Phan Thiet.

One of the procession's biggest attractions was a performance featuring a 49-meter-long green fabric dragon. Making the dragon undulate in rhythm with the drums and horns required a team of 120 to 150 performers who had practiced for months.

The dragon dance is not only an elaborate artistic performance but also an important religious ritual at the Quan Thanh De Quan Procession Festival. It symbolizes prayers for national peace, public well-being and favorable weather, as well as hopes for a peaceful, prosperous and happy life for all.

In 1996, with the approval of the former Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, the Chinese community in Phan Thiet revived the festival. Since then, it has been held every two years, drawing large numbers of local residents and visitors from elsewhere.

Tran Chan Khon, Head of the Management Board of Quan De Temple, said the festival has evolved over the years into a distinctive traditional cultural event, attracting large numbers of Chinese community members, local residents and visitors from other areas.

According to Tran Chan Khon, the festival not only helps the Chinese community preserve its traditional cultural and religious practices, but also provides a platform for assembly halls, associations and community groups to strengthen ties and foster closer relations with local residents.

Spiritual and Cultural Heritage

Over generations, the Ong Procession Festival has become an important part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Chinese community and local residents in Phan Thiet.

For the Chinese community, Quan Thanh De Quan embodies the virtues of loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, wisdom and trustworthiness, while also symbolizing justice, integrity and self-sacrifice for the greater good.

According to Dao Quang Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phan Thiet Ward and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, the festival is intended to convey prayers for national prosperity, favorable weather, peace and well-being. It also offers the community an opportunity to honor earlier generations who helped build the homeland and to pray for prosperity in business, trade and fishing livelihoods.

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Through the festival, the local authority aims to develop it into a signature cultural and tourism event in Phan Thiet Ward, while helping attract visitors and promote the image of a civilized, friendly and culturally rich coastal urban area.

Dao Quang Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phan Thiet Ward and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee

This year's festival is even more vibrant, drawing Chinese community groups and assembly halls from Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai and creating more opportunities for cultural exchange and closer ties with the Chinese community in Phan Thiet.

Nguyen Anh Trung, a tourist from Hanoi, said: “My family happened to visit Phan Thiet during this unique festival. I was especially impressed by the elaborate preparations, from costumes and character makeup to the performances. Everything was carefully staged and very enjoyable to watch.”

Many households running businesses along the Ong procession route also place altars with offerings of food, cakes and fruit in front of their homes, praying to Quan Thanh De Quan for good luck and peace as the procession passes.

The 2026 Ong Procession Festival runs from September 4 to 6, featuring a wide range of distinctive rituals and festive activities. The assembly halls perform 16 traditional folk rituals that have been passed down through generations of the Chinese community in Phan Thiet, including the Holy Mother Summoning Ritual, Scripture Summoning Ritual, Water Summoning Ritual, Chieu Ung Cong Summoning Ritual, Scripture Opening Ritual and the Ritual to Pay Homage to Quan Thanh and the Predecessors.

In addition, the festival features other rituals, including the Ceremony to Introduce Ong, the ritual release of animals, offerings to wandering souls and the release of ceremonial boats at Phan Thiet Fishing Port. These rituals honor heroes and earlier generations who contributed to the country and their communities, while conveying prayers for favorable weather, peace, security and bountiful harvests.

Minh Van