To tourists, the sea may be: Blue waters – swimming – seafood – cruises. Yet for fishing communities, the sea is also a place of livelihood, fraught with risks, and the decider of their families' lives. From that foundation arise many beliefs and festivals of coastal residents.
What does the Cau Ngu Festival pray for?
In Van Don, the Cau Ngu Festival is held at the beginning of the year with wishes for:
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Favorable weather.
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Calm skies and tranquil seas.
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Safety for fishermen.
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Smooth and successful sea voyages.
In 2026, the festival is held on February 28 with an incense-offering ceremony at King Ly Anh Tong Temple and a palanquin procession to the Cai Rong Fishing Port area.
This is a community festival before it is a tourism product
This is very important. The festival exists for:
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Fishermen's livelihoods.
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Community faith.
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Memories of the sea.
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Wishes for safety.
Not because tourists need content for photos.
When encountering the procession
Do not:
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Cut across the procession.
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Pull people from the procession aside for photos.
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Touch the palanquin.
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Stand in the middle of the procession route.
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Fly drones directly above the crowd without permission.
Stand to the side and observe.
When entering the fishing port
A fishing port is a workplace. Do not stand:
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In the path of cargo carts.
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Right at the edge of the wharf.
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In front of warehouse entrances.
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Where people are sorting seafood.
A good photo is not worth disrupting livelihoods or causing danger.
If you want to photograph fishermen
Ask before taking portraits. For wide shots of port activities, still avoid pointing cameras too close to workers or filming personal moments for too long.
Do not board fishing boats without permission
A fishing boat is:
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A workplace.
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Personal/business property.
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Equipped with hazardous machinery.
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Full of slippery areas.
Only board if invited by the boat owner or an official experience program.
Fisherman experience tourism
Van Don is developing marine community-based tourism products and experiences linked to livelihoods and aquaculture. Choose organized tours instead of walking up to a fishing boat and asking: “Let me come along for a day, I'll pay you.” Going out to sea involves waterway safety, vessel registration, and operating requirements.
An easy-to-remember principle
At a resort, you are a customer. In a fishing village, you are first and foremost a guest of the community. This distinction determines how you should behave.
Quick checklist
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Understand the meaning of the festival before attending.
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Do not cut across the procession.
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Do not touch the palanquin or offerings.
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Do not obstruct activities at the port.
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Ask for permission before taking portraits.
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Do not board fishing boats on your own.
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Only join clearly organized fisherman tours.
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Do not buy animals/seafood that are prohibited from harvesting.
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Do not litter into the sea.
