Ong Pagoda Festival - Festival at a 300-year-old Chinese temple in Bien Hoa with dragon-lion dances and traditional Chinese opera.

Ong Pagoda Festival is a profound cultural and religious event held at the That Phu Ancient Temple (commonly known as Ong Pagoda), located beside the Dong Nai River in Tran Bien ward, Dong Nai province. In 2023, it was officially inscribed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, affirming its special value in the nation's cultural life.

Origin and Story: The festival and the temple are deeply rooted in a history that spans over three centuries. Over 340 years ago, the temple was built by the Chinese community who migrated from seven prefectures in Guangdong and Fujian. Over time, it has become a symbol of the cultural exchange between Vietnam and China.

The festival tells the story of a community's resilience and illustrates how Chinese culture quietly anchored itself, blended, and flourished in the heart of Vietnam. It serves as a "living heritage" where the past meets the present, dedicated to honoring ancestors, expressing gratitude to the land's founders (such as Lord Nguyen Huu Canh and Duke Tran Thuong Xuyen), fostering community cohesion, and preserving cultural identity.

In 2026, the 11th Traditional Ong Pagoda Festival will take place over five days, from February 25th to March 1st (the 9th to 13th days of the first lunar month). The event harmoniously combines solemn religious ceremonies with vibrant cultural festivities:

The Grand Procession (10th day of the first lunar month): A colorful parade carrying the ancestral tablets of the land's founders and local deities through the streets. The procession is brought to life with the sounds of drums, vibrant costumes, lion and dragon dances, and traditional Teochew and Minnan music.

Incense Offering & Theatrical Performances (10th day): A solemn incense offering and announcement ceremony takes place alongside a theatrical performance themed "Eternal Humanity and Righteousness", reminding attendees of the traditional principle of gratitude.

Lantern-Releasing Ceremony (Evening of the 13th day): The festival concludes with hundreds of shimmering lanterns floating along the Dong Nai River, carrying wishes for peace and prosperity. Highlights include 7 lanterns representing the seven Chinese communities and 342 lanterns symbolizing the temple's 342-year history.

Traditional Arts & Performances: Visitors can enjoy Southern Vietnamese folk music, traditional martial arts displays, and classical opera performed by the Huynh Long troupe.

Folk Games & Calligraphy: The festival offers a vibrant "cultural feast" where people can participate in community games like chess, tug-of-war, and sack racing, or engage in the New Year tradition of requesting Vietnamese and Chinese calligraphy.