Thak Con Festival recognised as national intangible cultural heritage
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has officially included the Thak Con Festival—also known as the Coconut Offering Festival of the Khmer ethnic community in An Hiep Commune, Chau Thanh District, Soc Trang Province—on Viet Nam’s list of national intangible cultural heritage.
Originating from a legend dating back some 300 years, the Thak Con Festival is held annually from the 13th to the 17th day of the third lunar month, with the main ceremony taking place on the 15th day.
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People prepare offerings for Thak Con Festival celebration. |
Thak Con is a peace-seeking festival of the Khmer people in southern Viet Nam. It marks the beginning of the agricultural season and celebrates the promise of an abundant harvest.
Local communities prepare offerings to express gratitude to heaven and earth, deities, and ancestors—either in hope of a prosperous crop or in thanksgiving for a fruitful season.
The festival plays an important role in the community’s economic, cultural, social, and moral life. It fosters virtuous and harmonious living, promotes intercultural exchange among ethnic groups, and helps preserve traditional Khmer cultural identity.
A unique feature of the celebration is the ‘slathodon’ - flower vases crafted from coconut shells - symbolising purity and the wish for favourable weather and a peaceful life.
During the Thak Con Festival, visitors can enjoy vibrant displays of traditional Khmer arts and culture, including Chhay-dam and Rom Vong folk dances, and distinctive five-tone music.
This recognition not only honours the enduring spiritual values passed down by generations of the Khmer community, but also contributes to promoting tourism development in Soc Trang Province.
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