Ready for the Traditional Stream Fishing Festival in Toan Thang Commune

These days, the vibrant atmosphere of preparations for the 2026 Traditional Stream Fishing Festival is spreading across every hamlet in Toan Thang Commune. From the festival grounds in Tan Lap Hamlet to the stream sections of Khoang Lo and Khoang Tlo, local residents are actively beautifying the landscape, practicing art performances, and preparing culinary stalls and sporting events for this grand celebration of Muong ethnic identity.

Performing the raft-launching ritual to open the Stream Fishing Festival in 2025.

The Toan Thang Commune People’s Committee recently issued Plan No. 50/KH-UBND for the organization of the festival, which will take place over three days, from May 14 to 16, 2026 (the 28th to 30th day of the 3rd lunar month). This traditional cultural and religious activity was restored in 2011 to preserve Muong cultural values and promote local tourism.

The Traditional Stream Fishing Festival is a folk celebration deeply rooted in the wet-rice agriculture of the Muong Tlo people. According to folk belief, once the transplanting is finished and the rice plants have taken firm root, the community organizes a collective fishing event in the streams to pray for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and a prosperous life.

The festival is also known as the "Rice Weeding Ceremony." The largest fish caught are selected as offerings to the Village Guardian Spirit at the temple to commemorate ancestors who, according to legend, reclaimed the land and taught the Muong people how to farm and fish. Thus, the festival is not just a community celebration but an act of gratitude toward ancestors and a symbol of the bond between humans and nature.

The ritual opening ceremony conducted by a Muong Shaman at the 2025 Stream Fishing Festival.

The ritual portion will begin solemnly with a Mo ceremony at the temple at 6:00 AM on May 14. The opening ceremony follows at 8:30 AM with the ceremonial drum beating, Mo performances, the launching of rafts, and the first symbolic cast of the fishing net.

The festival portion features a diverse range of activities, including unique cultural and sporting events and folk games such as bamboo raft racing, net casting, crossbow shooting, tug-of-war, swimming, volleyball, and cross-country running. The highlight of the festival is the collective fishing activity in the stream sections, starting at 10:30 AM on May 14, with the enthusiastic participation of a large number of local residents.

In addition, the festival includes many activities deeply imbued with Muong cultural identity, such as a grand performance by 200 Muong gongs, antiphonal singing (folk singing exchanges), traditional fishing tool weaving contests, and a culinary competition along with displays of agricultural and handicraft products from 22 hamlets across the commune.

Muong cultural spaces have been professionally invested in to create striking highlights for residents and tourists to visit and experience.

The scene of collective fishing at Khoang Lo during the 2025 festival.

In recent years, thanks to social media, the festival has gained widespread popularity, attracting thousands of tourists. In 2026, the locality aims to finalize documentation to nominate the Traditional Stream Fishing Festival for the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Mr. Bui Xuan Truong – Vice Chairman of Toan Thang Commune People’s Committee, stated: "The festival is not only a unique cultural beauty but also an occasion to educate the community on tradition, raising awareness about preserving ethnic identity and protecting natural resources."

He added that preparations are being carried out urgently and synchronously. Professional sub-committees have been formed, and the commune’s Public Service Center will livestream the event on digital platforms to reach a wider audience.

Fishing at Khoang Lo during the 2025 festival.

A notable feature this year is the link between the festival and environmental protection. Prior to the opening, the commune will release fish into Khoang Lo to replenish aquatic resources. Local residents have also mobilized to clean up the environment and clear waterways to ensure a “Green - Clean - Beautiful” landscape.

Offering the catch to the Village Guardian Spirit and distributing 'blessings' to festival participants.

The fish caught during the festival will be offered to the Village Guardian Spirit, and the remaining “blessings” will be shared among the participants. With thorough preparation and community spirit, the 2026 festival promises to leave a lasting impression on visitors and further spread the unique values of Muong culture.

Hong Duyen