Thach Khoan Temple Festival – Phu Tho

The Thach Khoan Temple Festival is a traditional festival of the Muong people in Thanh Son, Phu Tho. The festival is held on the 24th and 25th day of the first lunar month at the Thach Khoan Temple, a unique ancient temple of the Muong people in Phu Tho province.

The temple worships the god Tan Vien Son, who was one of the four immortal gods in Vietnamese mythology, as well as three princesses of the Hung dynasty and four tribal leaders of the Dinh family, who were Muong heroes who helped King Le Loi fight against the Ming invaders in the 15th century.

Before the festival day, the organizing committee selects 22 elderly people who are kind-hearted, virtuous, gentle, and have harmonious families to act as the mandarins for the ritual. The writing of the funeral oration is an important task. The funeral oration expresses the wishes for a prosperous country and peaceful people, timely rains and favorable weather, abundant crops, and happiness for everyone. After the ritual, they burn the funeral oration and write a new one for the next year.

During the festival, there are many folk games that reflect the national identity and culture of the Muong people. One of the most popular games is throwing a ball through a ring, which is a chance for people to interact, make friends, and show their affection.