Long Tong Festival: A Powerful Start to Prosperous Harvests

The Long Tong Festival is one of Sapa’s most exciting events, but many people don’t know much about it. It’s a celebration full of fun, culture, and tradition, yet it’s often overlooked. If you’re curious about this amazing festival and want to learn why it’s so important to the local community, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to discover the lively activities, powerful rituals, and how the Long Tong Festival marks the beginning of the farming season.

What is the Long Tong Festival?

The Long Tong Festival, sometimes called Ooc Tong or Lung Tung, gets its name from the words “long,” meaning “down,” and “tong,” meaning “copper.” So, the Sapa festival is all about heading down to the fields. It’s a celebration that connects people with the land and the agricultural traditions of the community.

When & Where is the Long Tong Festival Celebrated?

Every year, right after the Lunar New Year, especially on the full moon of the first lunar month, the Tay and Nung ethnic communities in northern Vietnam eagerly prepare for the Long Tong Festival. 

The festival is typically held in the yard of a communal house, or in an open area like a flat field or mound, making it perfect for the ceremonies and celebrations. In places where there isn’t a communal house, the festival is organized in the largest available area of land, usually in the middle of a field, to accommodate all the activities and participants.

The History of Long Tong Festival

The Long Tong Festival is an ancient tradition that marks the beginning of a new farming season. During the celebration, people thank Thanh Hoang and Than Nong, praying for a good harvest, healthy animals, and peaceful, prosperous villages. This special event is important to the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. 

After a long year of hard work, the festival offers a chance to relax, visit friends and family, and exchange well wishes. It’s also a time for young people to connect, especially through traditional songs like sli and luon, making it a memorable and meaningful experience for everyone.

Major Traditions and Rituals of Long Tong Festival

The Long Tong Festival in the northern provinces of Vietnam includes several key ceremonies and rituals:

• Prayer Ceremony: A ceremony is held by priests to pray for good weather and a successful harvest. It starts with the Tay ethnic group’s ritual to ask the village’s Tutelary God to bless the festival.

• Thanking the Gods: Special prayers are made to Thien Dia (the Earth God), the God of Agriculture, the God of Mountains, and the God of Streams for protection and blessings.

• Going Down to the Fields Ritual: This is a crucial part of the festival. The villagers choose a respected man, known for his good family and plowing skills, to be the first to plow the field, symbolizing a prosperous and smooth harvest.

• Offering Ceremony: After the first plow, villagers select a spacious field and prepare an offering table with food and drinks. These offerings include meat, poultry, livestock, wine, traditional cakes, and five-colored sticky rice, representing the harmony of heaven and earth, and yin and yang.

Long Tong Festival Activities and Celebrations

After the shaman and village leaders do the opening ceremony, the festival part of the Long Tong Festival starts. This is the most exciting part and many tourists come to join the villagers. There are folk games like bird’s nest fighting, spinning, shuttlecock throwing, tug of war, and plowing contests. 

The shuttlecock throwing contest is the most popular game for tourists. This game is also played in many village festivals. It’s played in a large area with a tall bamboo pole and a circle above it, where players try to throw the shuttlecock inside.

The Custom of the Long Tong Festival of Ethnic Groups

The Long Tong Festival has important traditions that are special and full of meaning. Here’s a look at the main parts of the ceremony:

1. Choosing the Families

Each village picks 4 families to take part in the ritual called “put on the tray.” These families set up the offerings on the tray and start the festival. The offerings go to the gods of heaven, earth, and other spirits. The feast size depends on the family’s wealth, but the important items are always chicken, pork, sticky rice, and eggs.

2. Starting the Ceremony

The ceremony starts when the gong and drum are played. The master of ceremonies, who is chosen with respect, leads the prayers. This person follows a tradition and is trusted by the village.

3. Praying for Blessings

The master of ceremonies prays for a good harvest, good weather, and happy lives for the villagers. They ask the gods to bless the country, protect the crops, and bring health and happiness to the people.

4. The “Holy Water” Ritual

After the prayers, the master of ceremonies splashes holy water. This water is brought by the most beautiful girls in the village from a special mountain spring. Whoever catches the water is believed to have good luck for the year.

5. Praying to the Gods

Finally, the master prays to the God of Agriculture, the God of Mountains, and the God of Streams, asking for protection for the crops, good health, and peace for the village.

The Long Tong Festival is a time to celebrate nature, thank the gods, and pray for a happy and successful year.

How To Get To Long Tong Festival in Sapa?

To get to the Long Tong Festival in Sapa, follow these steps:

1. Travel to Hanoi: Start by arriving in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, which is the main hub for transportation to Sapa.

2. Bus or Train to Sapa: From Hanoi, you can take a bus or train to Sapa.

Bus: Many buses depart from your hotel and take around 6-8 hours to reach Sapa.

Train: You can also take an overnight train from Hanoi’s Hanoi Railway Station to Lao Cai, then a short bus ride to Sapa (about 1 hour)

3. Arriving in Sapa: Once you reach Sapa, you can either take a taxi or travel by foot to the Long Tong Festival location, typically held in local villages.

4. Get Local Guidance: Ask locals or hotel staff for directions to the festival, as it’s typically celebrated in the villages around Sapa, like Ban Ho, Ta Phin, or Lao Chai.

Conclusion

The Long Tong Festival is a fun time to be with family and friends. People enjoy good food, games, and special traditions. It is a happy time where everyone shares joy and makes memories. The festival helps people remember good times and look forward to the future. It is a great celebration that brings everyone together.