The project aims to sustainably preserve and promote unique values and folk characteristics of in Van Thuy Tu, as well as meet worshipping needs of local people and create a tourist attraction for domestic and international visitors.   

According to the project, starting from 2022, the main whale worshipping festival will take place annually in the sixth lunar month in Van Thuy Tu and adjacent streets, Phan Thiet fishing port, Hon Lao islet, Ca Ty river, etc.

The chief organizer of the annual festival will be the municipal authorities of Phan Thiet.

The worshipping activities of the festival would include a traditional whale procession from the Hon Lao islet to Thuy Van Tu which is the main worshipping  ritual often attracting large crowds of locals and visitors.  

Van Thuy Tu, the most famous whale temple in Binh Thuan province, is situated within Duc Thang ward, Phan Thiet city. This temple was built by fishermen to worship their Ca Ong (Venerable Whale). Van Thuy Tu is not only the largest but also the oldest whale temple in Binh Thuan. Since the construction of Van Thuy Tu was completed in 1762, the temple had existed for two and a half centuries. Apart from over 100 whale skeletons including the largest whale skeleton in Vietnam and South-east Asia, which is 22 meters long.

The whale worshipping festival at Van Thuy Tu has been classified as a national heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism in 2019, as well as listed as one of five typical festivals by Binh Thuan provincial government.

PTT