Visiting Tuy Loan Village in the Festival Season: Preserving Ancient Soul through Rituals and Hometown Flavors

Tuy Loan Village, located in Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City, is one of the few ancient villages that still preserves almost intact the historic and traditional cultural imprints of Vietnam. According to historical records, the village was established in 1470, during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, when five founding ancestors of the Dang, Lam, Nguyen, Tran, and Le families obeyed the order to march south and reclaim the wild land along the Tuy Loan River. Since then, a new community was born, closely tied to the fields, rivers, and the characteristic rural rhythm of Central Vietnam.

Through more than half a millennium of ups and downs, Tuy Loan has witnessed many historical events from the era of the Nguyen Lords expanding the territory to two resistance wars against foreign invaders. In 1999, the village was classified as a National Historic-Cultural Relic, with Tuy Loan Communal House serving as the center of religious and community activities. The ancient communal house still preserves 25 royal decrees through various dynasties, attesting to the rich tradition and filial piety of the people here.

Today, Tuy Loan is not only an ancient landmark, but also a symbol of resilience and national pride, attracting tourists seeking to feel the slow, harmonious, and culturally rich rhythm of life of the Quang region homeland.

Every year, on the 9th and 10th days of the first lunar month (around February in the solar calendar), the Tuy Loan Communal House festival is solemnly organized, being one of the largest and most unique folk festivals in Da Nang. This is an occasion for locals to commemorate the merits of the ancestors who reclaimed this land, while expressing gratitude to their homeland through solemn traditional rituals.

Participating in the festival are not only the residents of Dong and Tay hamlets but also thousands of tourists from everywhere. Amidst the echoing sound of drums and gongs, traditional worship rituals, the procession of royal decrees, and the procession of deities are meticulously performed, interspersed with lively folk games and community cultural activities.

The festival carries a harmony between sacredness and everyday joy, helping attendees feel as though they have returned to the "ancient soul" of an ancient Vietnamese village, where traditions are not only preserved, but also continue to spread in today's modern pace of life.

The festival takes place at Tuy Loan Communal House, located about 25km southwest of Da Nang city center. You can easily travel by motorbike or car along Highway 14B. The main time is the two days of the 9th and 10th of the first lunar month, but the festival atmosphere usually starts earlier with preparation activities. If you visit in 2025, the festival will fall around February 6-7 in the solar calendar, according to the lunar calendar. This is an ideal occasion to escape city crowds and immerse yourself in the peaceful countryside atmosphere.

The ritual part is the soul of the festival, organized with the participation of village elders and residents. The two most prominent rituals are:

• Royal Decree Procession: A group of people dressed in traditional costumes marches through four hamlets, carrying palanquins with royal decrees (divine conferment decrees from past dynasties). This journey symbolizes community solidarity and gratitude to ancestors. Folk music echoes, accompanied by lion and dragon dances, creating a vivid picture of ancient Vietnamese culture.
• Ceremonial Music and Incense Offering at the Communal House: This is a ritual to worship deities and ancestors, praying for national peace, prosperity, and bumper harvests. Presided over by elders with echoing sounds of gongs and drums, it creates a solemn atmosphere. This ritual not only preserves customs but also educates the younger generation about the moral principle of "when drinking water, remember its source".

These rituals help Tuy Loan Village preserve its "ancient soul", reminding everyone of their roots amidst today's urbanization.

Following the solemn ritual part is the vibrant festival part, featuring traditional folk games such as arm wrestling, stick pushing, tug-of-war, and boat racing on the Tuy Loan River. These activities are not only entertaining but also build physical health and foster team spirit. Visitors can participate, learn how to play, and even take home small prizes from the competitions.

It is impossible to mention Tuy Loan Village without mentioning the rustic yet deep flavors of home, an inseparable part of this land's soul. During every festival season, the village space comes alive with smoke, laughter, and wafting aromas from traditional kitchens, where local residents prepare delicious dishes using hundred-year-old family recipes.

Most prominent is Tuy Loan rice paper – a specialty recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. The rice paper is crafted entirely by hand, from finely ground rice flour, thinly spread, sprinkled with fragrant roasted sesame, and then grilled over red-hot coals until crispy and golden. That simple rice paper is the pride of the locals, often used to wrap pork, fresh herbs, or served with Mi Quang. The craft of rice paper making has existed for over 500 years, sustaining hundreds of households in the area. Visitors to the festival can visit traditional ovens, witness the making process firsthand, and buy them as gifts, priced at just 50,000 – 100,000 VND per pack, depending on the type.

Besides, Tuy Loan Mi Quang (Quang-style noodles) is also an indispensable dish. Soft, chewy ivory-white noodle strands, bathed in light savory broth, enjoyed with fresh shrimp, pork, fresh herbs, and grilled rice paper create the signature flavor of Central Vietnam. Within the festival area, traditional food stalls also serve familiar dishes like Nam O fish salad, banh xeo (crispy savory pancakes), and nem lui (grilled pork skewers), all made with local ingredients and adhering to traditional preparation methods.

Tuy Loan cuisine is not only the pride of the Quang people, but also a story of Vietnamese rural life, where flavors are created from skill, sincerity, and love for the homeland. Each dish is a cultural slice, helping visitors better understand the rustic yet resilient spirit of the people here.

Amidst the modern pace of a young city like Da Nang, Tuy Loan Village quietly preserves the breath of the past, where cultural, spiritual, and culinary values are preserved through the love and pride of generations. Each passing festival season is not only an opportunity to honor ancestor merits, but also a moment of harmony between past and present, as descendants gather under the ancient communal house roof to offer incense, worship, and share a simple countryside meal. Returning to Tuy Loan in the festival season, one finds not only an ancient village, but also encounters a part of the Vietnamese soul, rustic, resilient, and profound. In the echoing festival drum beats in the courtyard, in the fragrant aroma of grilled rice paper, we seem to feel the flow of history continuing, gentle yet persistent.