Held annually on the 19th day of the second lunar month, the Quan The Am (Avalokitesvara) Festival at Ngu Hanh Son (Marble Mountains) in Da Nang City stands as one of Vietnam’s most significant folk festivals, deeply woven into the fabric of Buddhist beliefs and traditions. This vibrant cultural and spiritual event showcases the unwavering dedication of the local community to preserve the nation’s rich heritage, creating a profound opportunity for Buddhists and the wider public to come together in prayer for peace, prosperity, and compassion while celebrating the harmonious blend of Buddhism and Vietnamese culture.

The Quan the Am Festival has been a source of national pride, recognized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism as one of the country’s 15 major festivals in 2000. Its significance was further underscored when it was designated a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 2021. Since 2023, the Da Nang People’s Committee has officially organized the Quan The Am Festival at the city level, a testament to its importance and the pride it instills in all who participate.

From March 16 to March 19, 2025 (February 17–20, Lunar Calendar), the Quan The Am Festival will be a hub of cultural, artistic, sporting, spiritual, and religious activities. These diverse events promise to draw thousands of Buddhist followers, locals, and visitors from across the nation.

Key Highlights of the 2025 Festival:

– Opening Ceremony: 5:30 PM, March 16, 2025 (Lunar February 17, 2025)

– Main Ceremony – Commemoration of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: 7:00 AM, March 18, 2025 (Lunar February 19, 2025). The heart of the festival will gather tens of thousands of participants, spreading a powerful message of compassion and unity as they pray for national peace and happiness. This year’s Main Ceremony will be broadcast live on DanangTV.

– Memorial Incense Offering Ceremony for Princess Huyen Tran and the Spring Offering Ceremony Praying for National Peace and Prosperity

– Buddhist activities, including the Quan Am Retreat, youth camping programs, Dharma talks, meditation sessions, and sacred prayer rituals organized by Quan The Am Pagoda.

– Seminar on the Influence of Buddhism in the Ma Nhai Inscriptions at the Ngu Hanh Son National Special Site.

– Art exhibitions and competitions, such as: ‘Quan Am – The Festival Season’ Art Photography Contest; Children’s painting contest and live sketching sessions; the Public Speaking Contest on ‘Literature and Buddhism’; Art exhibition featuring lotus-themed Oil Paintings by Artist Kim Chi Hoang; Displays of Paintings, Stone Artworks, Calligraphy, and photography; Launch and Seminar on the ‘Dieu Am’ Music Collection Composed by Da Nang Musicians on the Theme of Buddhism; Non Nuoc stone carving demonstrations and traditional craft displays; Lion and Dragon Dance Performances, Bamboo Pole Dancing, and Traditional Folk Game Booths; OCOP Booth showcasing local specialties …

– Floral Float Parade Celebrating the Festival and Da Nang Liberation Day (March 29, 1975 – March 29, 2025).

– Traditional Boat Race featuring a Costume Reenactment of Princess Huyen Tran’s Procession and the Flag Capture Ceremony on the Co Co River; alongside folk games such as Village Chess Tournament and Mixed Stilts Walking Competition, Traditional Tug-of-War Competition and the Team Banana Tree Climbing Flag Chase; 2025 Peace Run and Walk Program.

Cultural & Artistic Experiences Throughout the Festival:

– Opening night concert at Trung Vuong Theater (March 16)

– Art Performance Featuring Works from the ‘Dieu Am’ Special Journal and Traditional Thai Dance (March 17)

– Citywide cultural showcase (March 18), presented by Da Nang’s arts associations

– Bai Choi Singing, Classical Tuong Opera, and Vibrant Folk Performances; Tea and Poetry Corners with Traditional Music Performances, featuring tea tasting, poetry recitation, and folk instrumental shows, fine arts, calligraphy, lantern festival, campfire gatherings, Vietnamese Vegetarian Cuisine Space.

The Quan The Am Festival is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all attendees. We operate under the ‘5 No’s ‘principle to ensure a memorable, meaningful, and respectful event:

– No theft, robbery, or social evils

– No begging or disguised begging

– No littering, no food safety violations

– No harassment or overcharging of tourists

– No animal release ceremonies or superstitious practices

SCHEDULE

Quan The Am Festival, Marble Mountains, Da Nang City in 2025

           

 

TT	TIME	ACTIVITIES	LOCATION	HOST	COORDINATING UNIT	NOTES
16/3/2025 (17/02 Lunar Calendar)
1	07:00 a.m.	Opening Sutra Recitation Ceremony with the Raising of Ritual Banners, Buddhist Flags, Prayer Pennants, and the Release of Hot Air Balloons.	Quan The Am Pagoda Area	Quan The Am Pagoda	– Department of Culture and Sports – Board of Directors of NHS District – The Da Nang City Committee for Religious Affairs
2	07:30 AM	Opening of the Traditional Tug-of-War Competition and the Team Banana Tree Climbing Flag Chase	Su Van Hanh Street	NHS District People’s Committee	Department of Culture and Sports
3	08:00 a.m.	Opening of the Fine Arts Exhibition featuring Paintings, Calligraphy, and Letter-Painting, along with the Launch of the 2025 Quan The Am Festival “Dieu Am” Special Journal	Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	– The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Da Nang City – The Da Nang City Committee for Religious Affairs
4	08:00 a.m.	Exhibition and Demonstration of Non Nuoc Stone Carving Art.	Su Van Hanh Street	NHS District People’s Committee	Department of Culture and Sports
5	8:30 a.m.	Opening of the Buddhist Cultural Museum	Buddhist Cultural Museum	Quan The Am Pagoda	Department of Culture and Sports
6	8:30 a.m.	Opening Ceremony of the Public Speaking Contest on ‘Literature and Buddhism’	Quan The Am Pagoda	City General Science Library	Quan The Am Pagoda
7	8:30 a.m.	Exhibition Activities: Lotus-themed Oil Paintings by Artist Kim Chi Hoang; Displays of Paintings, Stone Artworks, Calligraphy, and More.	Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	Department of Culture and Sports
8	8:45 a.m.	Opening of the ‘Quan Am – The Festival Season’ Art Photography Contest and the Exhibition of Paintings and Sculptures	Su Van Hanh Street	Union of City Literature and Art Associations and Quan The Am Pagoda	Department of Culture and Sports
9	09:00 a.m.	Opening of the Festival Check-in Area featuring Symbolic Installations, Mascot Decorations, and Festival-themed Photo Exhibitions.	Su Van Hanh Street	NHS District People’s Committee	Department of Culture and Sports
10	09:15 a.m.	Opening of the OCOP Booth showcasing local specialties	Su Van Hanh Street	Ho Chi Minh City Trade Promotion and Promotion Center	NHS District People’s Committee
11	9:30 a.m.	Opening of the Festival’s Cultural Stage with Bai Choi Singing, Classical Tuong Opera, and Vibrant Folk Performances	Su Van Hanh Street	NHS District People’s Committee	Department of Culture and Sports
12	09:00 to 21:00	Lion and Dragon Dance Performances, Bamboo Pole Dancing, and Traditional Folk Game Booths.	Su Van Hanh Street	NHS District Union	– Department of Culture and Sports – NHS District People’s Committee
13	14:00 to 16:00	Memorial Incense Offering Ceremony for Princess Huyen Tran and the Spring Offering Ceremony Praying for National Peace and Prosperity	– Shrine of Princess Huyen Tran – Main stage	NHS District People’s Committee	– Quan The Am Pagoda – People’s Committee of Hoa Hai Ward
14	4:00 p.m.	Kite Art Show	Hoa Quy – Dong No Urban Area Park	Department of Tourism	NHS District People’s Committee
15	5:30 p.m.	Opening of the Festival	Main Stage	Festival Organizing Committee	Quan The Am Pagoda
16	18:00 to 20:00	Floral Float Parade Celebrating the Festival	The main roads of the city	NHS District People’s Committee	– City Police – Department of Culture and Sports
17	6:30 p.m.	Opening of the Puppet Performance Program featuring Dry Puppetry and Water Puppetry	Su Van Hanh Street	NHS District People’s Committee	Department of Culture and Sports
18	7:00 p.m.	Art Show to Celebrate the Festival	Main Stage	Theater Trung Vuong	– Quan The Am Pagoda – Department of Culture and Sports
19	20:00	Lantern Lighting and Meditation Walk	Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	Board of Directors of NHS District
17/3/2025 (18/02 Lunar Calendar)
1	07:30 AM	Village Chess Tournament and Mixed Stilts Walking Competition	Su Van Hanh Street	NHS District People’s Committee	Department of Culture and Sports
2	8:30 a.m.	Seminar on the Influence of Buddhism in the Ma Nhai Inscriptions at the Ngu Hanh Son Scenic Site	Quan The Am Pagoda	Da Nang Museum	– Department of Culture and Sports – NHS District People’s Committee
3	09:00 a.m.	Children’s Painting Contest and Live Sketching Performances on the Quan The Am Festival at Ngu Hanh Son	Quan The Am Pagoda	Union of City Literary and Art Associations	– NHS District People’s Committee – City Fine Arts Association
4	2:00 p.m.	Launch and Seminar on the ‘Dieu Am’ Music Collection Composed by Da Nang Musicians on the Theme of Buddhism	Main Stage	Quan The Am Pagoda	– Department of Culture and Sports – The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Da Nang City
5	16:00 to 20:00	– Folk art performances – Tea and Poetry Corners with Traditional Music Performances, featuring tea tasting, poetry recitation, and folk instrumental shows	– Su Van Hanh Street Stage – Tea Corners of Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	NHS District People’s Committee
6	18:00 to 20:00	Floral Float Parade Celebrating the Festival	The main roads of the city	NHS District People’s Committee	– City Police – Department of Culture and Sports
7	6:30 p.m.	Dharma Talk on the Festival Theme	Main Stage	Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem – Vice President of the Central Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha	– The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Da Nang City – The Da Nang City Committee for Religious Affairs – Quan The Am Pagoda
8	7:00 p.m.	Avalokitesvara (Quan Am) Blessing and Empowerment Ceremony	Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda and the Buddhist Delegations from Nepal and India	The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Da Nang City
9	7:30 p.m.	Art Performance Featuring Works from the ‘Dieu Am’ Special Journal and Traditional Thai Dance	Main Stage	Quan The Am Pagoda and Da Nang Buddhist Artists Association	Department of Culture and Sports
10	8:30 p.m.	Lanterns, campfires	Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Da Nang City
	18/3/2025 (19/02 Lunar Calendar)
1	07:00 a.m. until 09:00	Main Ceremony of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, featuring Religious Rituals (including the Procession of the Sacred Statue, Costume Performances) and the Offering of Artistic Flower Bouquets and Five-Fruit Trays	Pagoda ceremony stage	Festival Organizers	– Department of Science and Technology – NHS District People’s Committee – The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Da Nang City – The Da Nang City Committee for Religious Affairs – Quan The Am Pagoda
		– Live broadcast of the ceremony on DanangTV channel – Da Nang Radio and Television		Da Nang Radio and Television
2	09:00 a.m.	Avalokitesvara (Quan Am) Blessing and Empowerment Ceremony	Quan The Am Pagoda	Guanyin Pagoda and the Buddhist Association of Nepal, India	– The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Da Nang City – The Da Nang City Committee for Religious Affairs
3	9:30 a.m.	Vietnamese Vegetarian Cuisine Space	Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	– Department of Tourism – Da Nang Culinary Culture Association
4	9:30 a.m.	Traditional Boat Race (featuring a Costume Reenactment of Princess Huyen Tran’s Procession and the Flag Capture Ceremony on the Co Co River)	Co Co River	Department of Culture and Sports	NHS District People’s Committee
5	14:00 to 15:00	Great Compassion Dharma Ceremony, Meditation Session, and Dharma Talk	Main Stage	Quan The Am Pagoda	– The Da Nang City Committee for Religious Affairs – The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Ngu Hanh Son District
6	16:00 to 20:00	– Folk art performances – Tea and Poetry Corners with Traditional Music Performances	– Village Chess Stage – Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	NHS District People’s Committee
7	6:00 p.m. until 20:00	Floral Float Parade Celebrating the Festival	The main roads of the city	NHS District People’s Committee	– Da Nang Municipal Police – Department of Culture and Sports
8	7:00 p.m.	Art Show Celebrating the Festival	Main Stage	Union of City Literary and Art Associations	Quan The Am Pagoda
9	20:00	Lantern Lighting and Meditation Walk	Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	– The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Ngu Hanh Son District – The Lay Buddhist Association
10	9:00 p.m.	Traditional campfires	Quan The Am Pagoda	Quan The Am Pagoda	The Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Ngu Hanh Son District
19/3/2025 (20/02 Lunar Calendar)
1	6:30 a.m. until 08:30	2025 Peace Run and Walk Program	Su Van Hanh street	Da Nang City Peace Committee	Department of Culture and Sports
2	10:00 a.m.	Closing Ceremony	Main Stage	Festival Organizers	– NHS District People’s Committee – Quan The Am Pagoda

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