Held annually on the 30th day of the fifth lunar month and the first two days of the sixth lunar month, the Cam Hai Communal House and Shrine Festival in Hai Hoa Commune is a cornerstone of the cultural and spiritual life of this local coastal community.
The festival features both ceremonial rituals and festive activities, including the unique tradition of selecting six "Cai Dam" custodians to care for six ceremonial pigs, locally known as "Ong Voi". During the festival, these "Ong Voi" are carried in procession to the communal house to pay tribute to the village tutelary deity.
![The ceremonial](https://en-cdn.baoquangninh.vn/images/VhA7u7GVVt3cvpTw_G1_d1cn1rn9oFASTQk2Nhc2B3DH02CUausuK40ulBEXXsEdp_WHX7gcO9zGt8UWGR7cMDCkoKFs_BCPouyU8dlUMpf4CvF4rnQc_Fl39izj6KQnmQ0NTVrmi0_7ZZSpDMivQvVa74TAhiHn0w7_mHKrlTSpU9nXAFBArmlUK-xj6E1Qui5l3LWum_s-g1Sg0DzcCjBSLvkp07bbD0Icm6sAWzl_ZeJ-QUuHP9YNaRyy8Rjcj2a_s0Q8BgL16f8q2K-Dpg/2530870_the_ceremonial_ong_voi_offerings_attract_particular_interest_from_local_residents_and_visitors_as_they_are_carried_in_procession_to_the_communal_house_13274316.jpg.avif "The ceremonial "Ong Voi" draw significant attention from locals and visitors alike as they are paraded to the communal house.")
This ritual symbolizes the tutelary deities riding elephants into battle and patrolling to protect the homeland.
More than just a traditional festival, the event epitomizes the Vietnamese philosophy of “When drinking water, remembering its source, reflecting the community's deep respect for its ancestors while inspiring younger generations to preserve and promote the nation's rich cultural heritage.
By Nguyen Dung
