The Hoi An Full Moon (Nguyen Tieu) Festival usually takes place over three days, from the 14th to the 16th of the first lunar month each year…
The Nguyen Tieu Festival, also known as the Thuong Nguyen Festival, is traditionally considered the day of the “Heavenly Mandate of Four Blessings,” when the celestial officials bestow their blessings upon all humanity. Therefore, from ancient times, immediately after the Khai Ha on the 7th day of the first lunar month, the Vietnamese have prepared rituals to pray for peace, good fortune, blessings, and prosperity throughout the year, while also opening the festival for entertainment before embarking on the work of the new year, with the hope that everything will proceed smoothly, favorably, and successfully.
Under the Nguyễn dynasty, the emperors placed great importance on the Nguyen Tieu Festival (Thuong Nguyen), ranking it among the most significant annual ceremonies, with prescribed rituals and specific offerings to be presented at the imperial court. The Đại Nam Thực Lục, compiled by the National Historical Institute, records: In the 16th year of Emperor Minh Mạng’s reign (1835), after the officials had deliberated on the annual ceremonial regulations, the emperor decreed that during the Winter Solstice, Thuong Nguyen, Trung Nguyen, and Ha Nguyen, offerings be made at the temples and the Phụng Tiên Hall, with rites performed in accordance with the Duan Yang Festival. In particular, during Thuong Nguyen and the Mid-Autumn Festival, lanterns were to be hung throughout the night to highlight the festive day when the weather was favorable.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CULTURAL VALUE
In Hoi An, immediately following Khai Ha Day (the 7th day of the first lunar month), the local people enthusiastically begin preparations for the Hoi An Full Moon (Nguyen Tieu) Festival. This festival has long been a traditional celebration of the Hoi An community and embodies unique cultural values and distinctive features compared to many other regions in Vietnam and Asia. Its formation is based on local cultural traditions while also reflecting centuries of cultural exchange and adaptation with China and Japan through Hoi An’s history as an international trading port.
According to the record of festivals and customs of Minh Huong commune in Hoi An in 1765, there were 16 traditional ceremonies held throughout the year, among which the Nguyen Tieu Festival was celebrated at key locations such as Cam Ha Palace, Trung Han Palace, and Hai Binh Palace. The main form of observance was ritual offerings, supplemented by lantern displays and palanquin processions through the streets.
According to the expenditure records of Ly Tam Buu Vu of Minh Huong commune, in 1787, funds were allocated for purchasing ceremonial papers in preparation for the Nguyen Tieu Festival at Van Tho communal house and Lai Vien Temple, as well as for preparations for the Lantern Festival and Nguyen Tieu Festival at Trung Han Palace, Cam Ha Palace, and Hai Binh Palace.
RITUALS AND ACTIVITIES
During the Hoi An Full Moon (Nguyen Tieu) Festival, village communal houses, temples, and assembly halls hold solemn rituals, decorate with vibrant lanterns and floral arrangements, and create a lively, festive atmosphere reminiscent of the days leading up to the Lunar New Year.
At the Quang Trieu and Trieu Chau Assembly Halls, ceremonies are held not only to pray for peace and prosperity but also to honor the Forefathers and serve as an annual reunion for descendants from near and far. Offerings are meticulously arranged on the altars, including roast pork, steamed buns, incense, flowers, tea, fruits, and other dishes reflecting the culinary traditions of each community.
At the Quan Cong Temple (Ong Pagoda), Ba Pagoda, Cau Pagoda, and other assembly halls such as Phuoc Kien and the Five Halls, incense fills the air, and visitors from all directions come to pray for blessings and fortune at the start of the year. The Full Moon Festival is also a major occasion for Buddhist worship, based on the belief that “a year of Buddhist offerings cannot compare to the first full moon of the lunar year.” Each year, during the festival, temples organize rituals to invoke the Buddha, chant sutras, offer incense to avert misfortune, dispel calamities, and pray for peace.
MEANING AND ROLE OF THE FULL MOON (NGUYEN TIEU) FESTIVAL IN THE HOI AN COMMUNITY
At village communal houses and local shrines such as Xuan Lam Communal House – Cam Pho Ward, Son Phong Communal House – Son Phong Ward, An My Communal House – Cam Chau Ward, Tra Quan Mausoleum, Cay Gia Temple – Cam Thanh Commune, Ong An Bang Mausoleum – Cam An Ward, and others, the local community conducts the first annual sacrificial rites of the year. These ceremonies are intended to honor the deities of agriculture (Than Nong), the village tutelary gods (Thanh Hoang), the Great Can (Dai Can), and many other gods, praying for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and national peace and prosperity. At the same time, these rituals serve to commemorate the Forefathers who pioneered and established the villages, as well as those who sacrificed themselves for the homeland and the nation.
IMPORTANCE AND HERITAGE VALUE
Although the Full Moon Festival (Nguyen Tieu) has origins in various beliefs, it shares a common feature: on the first full moon of the year, people express their reverence toward Buddhas, deities, and ancestors, praying for a prosperous and happy life, while simultaneously holding springtime celebrations to prepare for a new year of work and livelihood. Therefore, the Nguyen Tieu Festival plays a significant role in the cultural life of the Hoi An community, from historical times to the present, in multiple dimensions—fulfilling spiritual needs, strengthening community bonds, providing entertainment, and creating a space for individuals and the community to cultivate cultural and artistic values, while preserving and promoting the rich traditional heritage of their homeland.
Through its formation, nurturing, and development, the Nguyen Tieu Festival in Hoi An is currently maintained and celebrated on an annual basis, retaining its distinctive and unique cultural values. It stands as one of the major early-year festivals of the Hoi An community, exerting a profound and lasting influence on the cultural life of the local population, and is cherished, preserved, and actively promoted by the community. In doing so, it contributes to enriching the cultural identity of the nation in general, and of Hoi An and Da Nang in particular.
In order to honor the values of the Nguyen Tieu Festival in Hoi An and contribute to the preservation and promotion of the nation’s cultural beauty and identity, on February 2, 2023, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a decision officially inscribing the Nguyen Tieu Festival in Hoi An into the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, under the categories of Traditional Festivals and Social and Religious Practices. This recognition by the State is a source of joy, pride, and great honor for the people of Hoi An. At the same time, it conveys a message about the shared responsibility of the community in safeguarding, transmitting, and effectively promoting this national intangible cultural heritage.
DANANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
