To visitors, the sea may mean: Blue water – swimming – seafood – cruises. But for fishing communities, the sea is also where they earn their living, a place that holds risks and determines their families’ lives. From this foundation, many beliefs and festivals of coastal communities have emerged.
What does the Cau Ngu ceremony pray for?
In Van Don, the Cau Ngu ceremony is held at the beginning of the year with wishes for:
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Favorable rain and winds.
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Calm weather and seas.
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Fishermen’s safety.
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Smooth fishing trips.
In 2026, the festival will be held on 28/2, featuring an incense-offering ceremony at the Temple of King Ly Anh Tong 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 because of:
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Fishermen’s lives.
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The community’s beliefs.
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Memories of the sea.
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The wish for safety.
Not because tourists need content for taking photos.
When encountering the procession
Do not:
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Cut across it.
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Pull people from the procession out to take 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 a drone directly above the crowd without permission.
Stand to the side and observe.
When entering the fishing port
The 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 pier.
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In front of warehouse doors.
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Where local people are sorting seafood.
A beautiful photo is not worth obstructing someone’s livelihood or causing danger.
If you want to photograph fishermen
Ask before taking portraits. For wide shots of port activities, you should still avoid bringing the camera close to workers or filming private situations for an extended period.
Do not casually board fishing boats
A fishing boat is:
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A workplace.
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Personal/business property.
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Equipped with dangerous machinery.
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Likely to have slippery areas.
Only board one if invited by the boat owner or an official experiential program.
Experiential tourism with fishermen
Van Don is developing community-based coastal tourism products and experiences connected to livelihoods and aquaculture. Choose an organized product instead of going to a fishing boat on your own and asking: “Let me go along for a day; I’ll pay you.” Going out to sea involves waterway safety, vessel registration, and operating conditions.
An easy-to-remember principle
At a resort, you are a customer. In a coastal village, first and foremost, you are a guest of the community. This difference will determine how you behave.
Quick checklist
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Understand the ceremony’s meaning before watching.
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Do not cut across the procession.
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Do not touch the palanquin/offerings.
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Do not obstruct activities at the port.
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Ask permission before taking portraits.
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Do not board fishing boats on your own.
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Only join clearly organized fishermen’s tours.
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Do not buy animals/seafood belonging to groups prohibited from being harvested.
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Do not throw rubbish into the sea.
