Fostering Community Ties and Elevating Dong Thap’s Profile

(DTO)  From April 30 to May 2, 2026 (the 14th to 16th of the third lunar month), the Dong Thap Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism hosted the Lady of the Realm Festival at the Go Thap Special National Relic Site. The three-day event attracted thousands of locals and pilgrims who gathered to offer incense and pay tribute to the Goddess and forefathers. Devotees also prayed for bountiful harvests and continued prosperity for their families.

A CULTURAL FESTIVAL THAT CONNECTS THE COMMUNITY

Go Thap is revered as a sacred land where people venerate the Lady of the Realm—a goddess regarded as the embodiment of divine protection, bringing peace and bountiful harvests to the region.

To show their devotion, the people of Go Thap established a temple and designated the full moon of the third lunar month for their annual festival.

Over time, with the support of local authorities and private contributions, the temple has been restored, and the festival has been preserved as a signature traditional event of the Special National Relic Site, deeply permeating the spiritual life of the populace.

In 2026, the Lady of the Realm Festival at Go Thap was organized with solemnity and expanded space, while still preserving its traditional cultural essence.

Mr. Ho Van Muoi, Head of the Ritual Committee at the Go Thap Special National Relic Site, stated: "The rituals are conducted according to traditional folk beliefs, including the Bathing of the Goddess (Tam Ba), Prayers for Peace (Cau An), Animal Offering (Thinh Sanh), Worship of the Agriculture God (Than Nong), and the Main Ritual (Chanh Te). 

Specifically, this year, we maintained the tradition of wrapping 700 'banh tet' (cylindrical glutinous rice cakes) and 1,000 'banh it' (sticky rice dumplings) to offer to the Goddess and serve festival-goers."

"Wrapping banh tet and banh it is considered a traditional cultural hallmark for anniversary rituals, so we always strive to maintain it—firstly as an offering to the Lady of the Realm, and subsequently to express gratitude to our ancestors while praying for bountiful harvests and prosperous, fulfilling lives for our farmers."

Notably, the activities at the festival also foster strong community cohesion. Many local residents contribute both labor and ingredients, joining the Go Thap Ritual Committee in wrapping the cakes.

Beyond cake wrapping, numerous volunteer teams consisting of hundreds of people from both within and outside the province come to cook and serve visitors throughout the festival. With everyone assigned a specific task, participants engage with great enthusiasm and seamless coordination.

What is truly precious here is not just the contribution of labor, but also the heartfelt sentiment and camaraderie that people extend to one another during the festival.

Ms. Luong Thi Lan (57, residing in My Hoa 2 Hamlet, Thap Muoi Commune) shared: “Every year for the Lady of the Realm Festival, I come to help wrap banh tet and banh it. Being surrounded by other women while working makes me very happy. I hope to contribute my small effort to making the cakes offered to the Lady of the Realm, while also sending my prayers for my family to remain peaceful and healthy.”

Through the sincere and enthusiastic cooperation of the people, thousands of banh xeo (sizzling pancakes), servings of rice, vegetarian porridge, and drinks have been provided free of charge to festival attendees. 

These simple images act as a connecting thread, creating a unique cultural festival space characterized by community cohesion at the Go Thap Special National Relic Site.

PROMOTING DONG THAP’S IMAGE

At the 2026 Lady of the Realm Festival at Go Thap, many meaningful activities also took place. Notably, there was a photo exhibition on the Cultural and Tourism Heritage of Dong Thap province, introducing and promoting tours, routes, areas, and tourist attractions within the province.

Through this, it helped people and tourists understand more about the nature, people, and heroic historical traditions of the land of Dong Thap.

At the same time, tourists could return to their childhood by immersing themselves in folk games such as: stick pushing, tug-of-war, sack racing, and enjoying performances of rhythmic gymnastics, classical opera (hat tuong co)...; experiencing photography at floral landscapes and rustic corners; visiting, shopping, and enjoying cuisine at the Go Thap Country Market and other food and merchandise stalls at the Go Thap Special National Relic Site.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, this year’s Lady of the Realm Festival at Go Thap featured a new element: in the festive part, there were musical performances reenacting the story of the Lady of the Realm of Go Thap.

To thoughtfully organize the Festival, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Go Thap Ritual Committee proactively prepared early, from decorating the campus of the Relic Site to the places of worship and the Lady of the Realm Temple.

At the same time, they coordinated well with the Police forces to regulate traffic and ensure security and order during the days of the Festival.

Through the activities at the 2026 Lady of the Realm Festival at Go Thap, not only were the legitimate religious needs of the people met, but deep impressions were also left in the hearts of the people and visitors from all over.

Through that, it contributed to promoting the image of the land, nature, and people of Dong Thap to tourists from near and far, promoting community cohesion and the development of spiritual cultural tourism.

Ms. Trinh Thi Hai (70 years old), residing in Kinh 2A Hamlet, Long Dinh Commune, stated: “I have come to worship the Lady of the Realm and pray for my family’s business to be favorable and peaceful. I hope that the authorities will continue to pay attention to preserving and promoting the significance of the Festival so that future generations can understand the meaning of this traditional Festival.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Tran Thị Duyen (56 years old), residing in An Nhon Ward, Cao Lanh District, said: “Every year, on the day of the Lady of the Realm Festival, I come to attend the ceremony with wishes for my family to be healthy and for business to be favorable.”

Ms. Hoang Thi Thi (72 years old), residing in Lien Son Commune, Phu Tho Province, shared: “This is the fourth time I have visited the Go Thap Special National Relic Site and also the first time I have attended the Lady of the Realm Festival at Go Thap. On this return visit, I see that the Relic Site is spaciously decorated, and the festival activities are vibrant and bustling.
I am most impressed with the musical performance program reenacting the story of the Lady of the Realm of Go Thap, which helped me understand more about the biography and cultural values associated with the belief of worshipping the Lady of the Realm.”

The Lady of the Realm Festival at Go Thap has long become a unique cultural and religious activity of the people of Dong Thap province in particular and the Southern region in general. 

The festival not only reflects a rich spiritual life but is also an occasion for the people to express deep gratitude to their ancestors, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and a warm, happy life.

With its special historical, cultural, and artistic values, on June 27, 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism decided to include the Lady of the Realm Festival at Go Thap in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is a worthy honoring of the efforts to preserve identity by the Party, authorities, and People of the province.

By MY XUYEN
Translated by X.QUANG