The Ban Vuong Festival is one of the traditional festivals of the Dao ethnic people across the country. In particular, Quang Ninh province has both restored and preserved this unique cultural trait.
Ban Vuong Festival – A ritual commemorating the Ancestor of the 12 Dao clans
The Dao ethnic group has a long history of migration due to war and climate change. Over time, they gradually divided into many smaller groups, with variations in spoken language and attire. Beliefs, folk cultural forms, and housing also developed differences.
The area where the Ban Vuong Festival takes place. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
Yet the Dao branches share a common trait: the belief in worshiping Ban Vuong. The custom of worshiping Ban Vuong and the Ban Vuong Festival are typical practices in the spiritual life of the Dao people in Ba Che, Quang Ninh in particular, and the Dao people in general.
Re-enactment of the journey crossing the sea to the new land. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
Legend has it that Ban Ho (Ban Vuong) was a Dragon Dog three cubits long, with velvety black fur striped with yellow, dearly loved by King Binh Vuong. One day, Cao Vuong raised an army to invade, plunging the people into misery. The king dispatched many valiant troops and mighty generals to guard the borders.
Arriving at Ban Vuong Temple. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
Ban Ho then proposed a strategy that helped the king defeat Cao Vuong. After subduing the invaders, Ban Ho suddenly transformed into a handsome young man; King Binh Vuong joyfully gave the Third Princess in marriage to him and conferred upon him the royal title Ban Vuong.
The procession offering local products. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
They had 12 children, 6 boys and 6 girls, who were granted 12 surnames by King Binh Vuong. After the king died, Ban Vuong ascended the throne but still maintained a simple lifestyle, teaching the people how to grow rice and weave cloth. After Ban Vuong passed away, generations of descendants have continued to organize rituals in his memory, which is the Ban Vuong Festival.
Mediumship trance fire-dancing. Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper.
The Ban Vuong worship ritual is profoundly humanistic because it guides people to always remember their roots. The ritual also serves as a bond connecting communities, clans, and villages.
District leaders offer incense. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
The Ban Vuong Festival is also organized to introduce and promote the cultural traits, rituals, and beliefs of the Dao ethnic group in Ba Che district. It re-enacts several rituals, such as the "sea-crossing" journey of the 12 Dao clans on 12 boats to the new land to settle down.
12 Dao clans. Photo: VOV.
In addition, there is a ritual of presenting offerings and specialty fruits to the ancestor Ban Vuong at Ban Vuong Temple, along with several representative rituals praying for favorable weather, bountiful crops, and prosperity and happiness for the people.
Boats heading down to Ban Vuong Temple. Photo: VOV.
Early in the morning, delegations representing the 12 Dao clans, dressed in their finest and most splendid traditional costumes, gathered at the boat wharf near Ong Temple to board 12 boats representing the 12 clans crossing the sea to the new land.
Offerings dedicated to Ban Vuong. Photo: VOV.
Amidst the sounds of drums and gongs, the boats traveled along the Ba Che River while crowds on the bank headed toward Ban Vuong Temple to present offerings such as morinda officinalis, golden camellia tea, traditional herbal medicine, corn, sweet potatoes, cassava, sugarcane, vegetables, dogs, chickens, pigs...
In sequence, representatives of the 12 Dao clans took turns offering incense, flowers, and offerings to Ban Vuong with deep reverence.
The turtle dance performed by the shamans. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
During the ritual dedicated to Ban Vuong, there are several activities within the ceremonial sequence such as the turtle dance, spirit mediumship fire dancing, and pestle wrestling. These are mystical activities that also reflect the cultural beauty of the Ba Che Dao people.
Singing and dancing after the ceremony. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
The Ban Vuong Festival contributes to preserving and promoting cultural values associated with community-based tourism development, while promoting tourism potential through cultural traditions, religious rituals, and cultural activities of the Dao ethnic group in particular and ethnic minorities in Quang Ninh in general.
