It was the second time the Mau Thuong Ngan worship practice festival has been held, offering visitors and residents a deeper insight into the Vietnamese heritage of practicing the worship of Mother Goddess of Three Realms while honouring folk artisans and meritorious artists in "hau dong”, a spirit ritual in which practitioners become mediums for 36 different deities, involving a number of artistic elements, such as music, singing, dance and costumes.

During the festival, participants have a chance to enjoy "hau dong” performances from 50 villages in 30 cities and provinces nationwide, as well as paintings featuring Mother Goddesses worship, outstanding festivals or the local land and people of Van Yen district. 

They are also able to go shopping, enjoy local specialties, travel to spiritual tourism destinations or experience community-based tourism services. 

They could join activities during the new rice festival, especially buffalo slaughtering ritual, and experience traditional cultural-sport activities such as "con” throwing, tug of war, blind man’s buff, among others. 

The New Rice Festival contributes to preserving and upholding the value of Dong Cuong temple - a national historical-cultural site, making breakthrough in spiritual tourism development for local socio-economic development. 

On the occasion, the district authorities inaugurated the restoration and upgrade of the Duong Cuong temple.