“Wind prevention” Festival of Dao Thanh Phan in Quang Ninh province

Originally the “Wind prevention” Festival was held only among Dao people. Since 2009 Dong Van commune has organized the “Wind prevention” Festival on a larger scale and turned it into a “Festival of ethnic groups in Dong Van commune”.

During the “Wind prevention” Festival, Dao Thanh Phan people stop all production activities like ploughing fields and planting. They believe that it’s an unlucky day to do anything: if they build a house, the house will collapse; if they grow rice, the rice fields will fail. If they leave their house, the Wind Genie will blow through the empty house, sweep away bad luck, and bring prosperity and fertility to the family.

So they get out of their houses in the early morning and return only when the sun is behind the mountain. They gather at a beautiful place in the mountains or near a brook to relax. Young people sing to express their love for each other. People share their production experience for the next crop.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Hanh, Chairwoman of the Binh Lieu district’s People’s Committee, says: “We hope the “Wind prevention” Festival will attract tourists. It shows the spirit of unity among ethnic groups here.”

The “Wind prevention” Festival features cultural and sports events such as throwing a cloth ball through a ring on top of a tall bamboo pole, crossbow shooting, and weaving. Duong Tai Mui, a local woman, says: “I follow the old custom of attending the fair. I meet and talk with old friends. Everyone goes to the festival. No one works.”

The Dong Van market fair is crowded with people selling and buying farm tools, household utensils, clothes, and accessories. In recent years, the “Wind prevention” Festival has attracted Tay and San Chi from other communes as well as the Dao from China’s Guangxi province.

Truong Giang