The main characteristic of the ancestor worshipping of the Dao Tien ethnic community is the worshipping of Ban Ho and Ban Vuong.

According to the legends, Ban Ho is one of their great ancestors and Ban Vuong is the later ancestor who had great contributions in rescuing Dao people from big sea wave, and an evil monster and then leading them to peacefully settle down in the south. These worshipping rituals are performed with great respect, with a incense bowl and water are solemnly laid on the altar which placed right in the middle of the worshipping space.

The deity of land is often worshipped in shrines located at the entrance of the each village, with rituals similar to those of Tay and Nung ethnic peoples. The shrines are usually built with wooden columns and covered by thatched roof. The annual ritual for worshipping of the deity of land is held on a fairly large scale on occasion of the spring of the new year with the desire for good health and full crops, and with ceremonial offerings including a pig of 30 kg or more, two boiled chickens and sticky rice package.

With a view of all beings have souls, Dao Tien people believe in the existence of gods in the environmental surrounding, such as gods of wind and rain and gods of crops. Therefore, Dao Tien people in many villages of the districts of Thong Nong and Nguyen Binh still maintain the worshipping rituals dedicating to the above mentioned gods, especially through the annual new-rice offering festival held on the 15^th day of the eight lunar month.

In addition, on the days supposed to be not good for health or farming, Dao Tien people just stay at home and refrain from trading, or even talking loudly.

The worship of the Dao Tien people with many positive values have contributed to preserved their cultural identity.

DT (Báo Cao Bằng)