The Da River sparkles during the Fish Worshiping and Flower Lantern Releasing Festival

6/24/2025 - 6:20:21 AM

These days in Hoa Binh City, the skies are clear, and the breeze is cool. On the Da River, hundreds of flower lanterns drift gently, carrying the wishes, gratitude, and blessings of the Muong people to the river that has been intertwined with their lives for generations.

The Da River sparkles during the Fish Worshiping and Flower Lantern Releasing Festival.

The 2025 Fish Worshiping and Flower Lantern Releasing Festival, held along the Pedestrian Street in Hoa Binh City is not merely a cultural event; it is a heartfelt tribute to the river, to nature, to ancestors, and to the land that has nurtured and protected the people through time.

Duong Nguyen Phuong Anh, a visitor from Hue, shared: "This is my first time in Hoa Binh and also my first time attending the Fish Worshiping and Flower Lantern Releasing Festival on the Da River. It’s a truly exciting experience. I see this not only as a meaningful cultural and spiritual event but also as a strong tourism highlight for Hoa Binh. I hope to return in the future and attend many more of its unique festivals.”

This year’s festival carries special significance. The merger signals a restructuring of administrative space, leadership systems, and strategic orientation, moving toward greater integration and sustainability.

The festival was thoughtfully prepared from stage setup and landscaping to the coordination of security, healthcare, and sanitation services. Yet the most moving moment came when the lanterns were released onto the water, each one a silent prayer for peace, family prosperity, and a bright, sustainable future for the homeland.

Nguyen Kieu Oanh from Phuong Lam Ward reflected: "This is the last Fish Worshiping Festival before Hoa Bình merges with Phu Tho. I sincerely hope that Hoa Bình will continue to preserve traditions like this so that its people can enjoy prosperity and happiness.”

The Fish Worshiping Festival is not merely a ritual; it is a moment of unity, a time when leaders, officials, Party members, and citizens come together in shared remembrance and common purpose. The Da River, a silent witness to countless changes, now inspires a new chapter. From the expansive reservoir to the glowing riverbanks, the people of Hoa Binh are blending cultural preservation with the ambition to reach new heights.

Bui Duy Linh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment emphasized:

"This year’s Fish Worshiping Festival takes place amid preparations for the provincial merger. It reflects our deep desire to preserve and promote national cultural identity while enhancing Hoa Binh’s image as a tourist destination in the years ahead.”

The 2025 Fish Worshiping and Flower Lantern Releasing Festival is a tribute to the past, a celebration of the present, and a promise for the future. Each lantern released into the current is a reminder: the river flows endlessly, and the beloved land of Hoa Binh continues to evolve.

In the shimmering light of a summer night, the flower lanterns drift on. A festival concludes, but a new era for the Muong homeland by the river is just beginning.

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