The Long Tong Festival in Ba Be

The Long Tong Festival, also known as Lễ hội Lồng Tồng (or sometimes Le Xuong Dong or the Harvest Prayer Festival), is a traditional celebration that takes place every year in Vietnam's Bac Kan province, mainly around Lake Ba Be. The festival, in which the Tay people and other ethnic groups actively participate, is deeply rooted in local traditions as an ancestral rite that celebrates the connection between inhabitants and nature.
 

The Long Tong Festival showcases the rich heritage of the Tay people in Ba Be - Photo :Mr Linh's Adventures

Often described as Vietnam's “green jewel”, Ba Be National Park offers an exceptional natural setting for this festival. Classified as a Ramsar site, Ba Be Lake, one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in the world, is a true haven of peace where lush forests, limestone mountains and crystal-clear waters mingle. The majestic karst ranges and rich biodiversity of Ba Be National Park offer an exceptional natural scenery, while the festival invites participants and visitors to explore this hidden treasure: sail on the crystal-clear waters of the lake, discover the tumultuous waterfalls of Dau Dang, marvel at the stalactites of the Puong and Hua Mạ caves, explore Tham Phay - considered the Son Doong of the North - or get lost in the meandering primary forest... There's something for everyone!

► Caving in Ba Be National Park

By taking part in the festival, you'll not only discover a spectacular and serene landscape, you'll also experience a unique human adventure. Immerse yourself in the lives of local communities, share their customs and traditions, and sample local culinary specialities, all in an exceptional natural setting... It's a tempting program, isn't it!
 

The Long Tong Festival contributes to the development of tourism in the region - Photo :Mr Linh's Adventures

Usually celebrated between the 5th and 15th days of the first lunar month, the Long Tong Festival 2025 will take place from January 9 to 11 according to the lunar calendar, or February 1 to 3 in the Gregorian calendar.
The 2025 version is set to feature several new and special activities aimed at attracting community participation and preserving traditional culture. Here are the highlights:
- Cultural exchanges: The festival will continue to organize music and dance performances, including Then singing, Sli singing and Dan Tính, to connect generations and encourage youth participation in preserving ethnic culture.
- Folk games: Games such as ném còn (throwing coloured cloth balls), stilt-walking, puppetry and tug-of-war, among others, will be maintained and developed. In particular, the ném còn game will be promoted on a larger scale to create a festive atmosphere worthy of this special festival.
- Sports activities: In addition to folk games, the festival will also include sports activities such as archery, shot-putting and volleyball, offering local residents opportunities to exchange and compete.
- Enhanced cultural promotion: In 2025, the festival will be organized with the support of local authorities to raise awareness of the cultural value of the Long Tong festival, while encouraging tourists to come, discover and experience a typical North Vietnamese festival.
- New for 2025: Fireworks and floating lanterns on the lake. In the evening, everyone will gather around a campfire for a warm sharing of songs, dances and moments of joy.
- An exceptional photographic exhibition will also highlight the rural beauty of Ba Be.
In addition, we've been told that this year's festival has undergone a number of refurbishments. Spaces have been enlarged and improved to offer visitors greater comfort. New ecological excursions, such as forest hikes, kayaking on Ba Be Lake and visits to caves and waterfalls, offer a closer-to-nature experience.
Some artistic performances have also been renewed, harmoniously combining traditional and modern music, creating an atmosphere both familiar and new. There are sure to be other surprises to discover on site, as the organizers are committed not only to preserving the province's cultural identity, but also to strengthening community cohesion and developing tourism in the region.
 

In the quiet of the mountain, the ceremony takes place with deep devotion - Photo :Mr Linh's Adventures

The Long Tong Festival dates back to ancient times and is linked to the legend of the formation of Lake Ba Be, passed down in local folklore. Formerly known as the Ba Be Spring Festival, it has officially taken on the name Lễ Hội Lồng Tồng Ba Bể in recent years. In 2012, the picturesque site of Ba Be Lake was recognized as a special national site by the Vietnamese Prime Minister. In 2014, the festival was included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The festival, dedicated to invoking good luck, rain and cosmic balance, is a flagship event for local communities. It represents a space for exchanging, sharing and celebrating ancestral traditions. At the same time, it contributes to the province's cultural influence and economic development by stimulating tourism in the region.

► Tales and legends of Ba Be Lake

The festival begins with solemn religious ceremonies.
Participants offer incense at the An Ma temple, located on a small island in Lake Ba Be. The villagers erect a bamboo altar one metre high and 40 centimetres wide. The altar is shaped like a letter U, with the bottom pointing East. Beautifully presented trays of offerings to the mountain and river gods are placed on the altar: a bowl of water, a plate of red glutinous rice, a plate of yellow glutinous rice (red symbolizes the sun and yellow the moon), boiled chicken, grilled fish, a bowl of boiled chicken blood, a sharp knife, a roll of new cloth, two yellow paper fish, two red paper owls, two bunches of flowers made from dried rice and fruit.
In the quiet of the mountain, the ceremony takes place with deep devotion, testifying to the strong spiritual bond between man and nature. This is not just a traditional ritual, it's also an opportunity for you – dear visitor - to feel the gratitude of the mountain people towards the earth and the sky, and to explore the depths of the spiritual culture and ancestral beliefs of the local communities.
 

The festival showcases special artistic performances and traditional games - Photo :Mr Linh's Adventures

The festival begins with an opening drum roll, followed by special artistic performances and traditional games.

These begin with the traditional lion dance. Then members of the 15 communes and towns come together for a grand festive celebration. 
The pirogue race, the festival's flagship event, sets the special tone for the festivities. Like a timeless reflection of the Tay cultural identity, the pirogues are handcrafted from hollowed-out tree trunks, a testament not only to the skill of the craftsmen, but also to the spirit of the community. Visitors can experience the thrill of paddling while testing their paddling skills in the heart of the vast Ba Be lake.

► Travelogue: The Artisan Treasures of Ba Be National Park

Among the most popular activities is con-throwing (or Nem Con: a ball made from pieces of colored cloth, filled with rice or cotton seeds). For the Tay, this traditional game symbolizes luck, happiness and love. Players try to throw the famous ball through a ring fixed to a post. A particularly popular amusement with participants and... tourists!
Tug-of-war and pole-vaulting are other stars of the folklore game. Both highlight the community's strength, endurance and team spirit. It's a little-known fact, but Keo co, tug-of-war was listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2015. Participants, of all ages and genders, compete in teams, each pulling a rattan rope in their direction, until they cross a certain line to win. As for the pole game, it's quite similar: here, it's a bamboo pole that each team tries to push to the other side of a line.
 

Local communities propose their culinary specialities - Photo :Mr Linh's Adventures

The traditional bowl dance, performed for the first time in 2024 by 250 artists and performers, was recognized as intangible cultural heritage in 2022. Performed by talented artists and accompanied by traditional melodies, the dances not only reflect the colors of local culture but also offer visitors the opportunity to discover the richness and subtlety of folk art, while the “Hat Then” songs of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups resonate, evoking the beauty of nature and the joys of life.

This is one of the festival's most spectacular and exciting activities. The bullfights are not only a demonstration of the beasts' strength, but also reflect the martial spirit of the highlanders. The lively atmosphere and cheering crowds create a spectacle that is both dynamic and traditional.

Booths allow local communities to showcase their culinary specialties and handicrafts, helping to promote tourism in the region. Visitors will have the opportunity to taste the famous Ba Be Lake grilled fish, freshly caught by the locals in the lake, marinated with spices and grilled over coals, preserving all its natural sweetness. Sticky rice, with its intense aroma of wild rice mixed with that of bamboo leaves, can also be found at the corner of a stall. A rustic dish that offers a simple yet exceptional culinary experience. Bamboo shoots, prepared in many different ways, each more original than the last, are the perfect result of the culinary creativity of Bac Kan's inhabitants. And don't forget to tell us all about ruou ngo, the young corn wine with its warm, full-bodied and... mountainous flavours (by which we mean a pronounced taste of the terroir...). We'll leave you to discover for yourself other delicious surprises, such as glutinous rice with five colors or dried and smoked meat.

► Ba Be cuisine, a gustatory journey to the heart of local communities
 

More than a festive celebration, Le Hoi Long Tong is also a moment of great spiritual importance for the local people, who gather to pray for favorable weather conditions, a good harvest, prosperity and health. It plays a vital role in preserving cultural traditions and reinforcing local identity, while drawing attention to Bac Kan's unique heritage.
A solemn yet festive manifestation of the harmony between inhabitants and their natural environment, Long Tong is a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in Vietnam's living culture, participate in ancestral rituals and discover the country's rich ethnic traditions.