The Tân An Communal House Ky Yen Festival is one of the traditional festivals associated with the history of land reclamation and village settlement in southern Vietnam. Established alongside Tân An Communal House in the early 19th century, the festival reflects the spiritual life of agricultural communities and expresses wishes for favorable weather, peaceful communities, abundant harvests, and national prosperity. It is also an occasion for local people to honor earlier generations and those who contributed to the homeland and the country.
Tân An Communal House and the Origins of the Festival
Tân An Communal House, also known as Bến Thế Communal House, is located along the Saigon River. The communal house was established in 1820, in connection with the process of land reclamation, settlement, and village formation by Vietnamese settlers in this area during the early 19th century.
For generations, the communal house has played an important role in community life. It is not only a place for religious and spiritual practices but also a cultural space where local people gather, participate in communal activities, and preserve customs passed down through generations.
In 2014, Tân An Communal House was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National-level Architectural and Artistic Relic.
The Ky Yen Festival and Its Cultural Significance
Held annually in the eleventh lunar month, the Tân An Communal House Ky Yen Festival commemorates those who contributed to the reclamation and settlement of the land, as well as people who made contributions to the homeland and the country. The festival also expresses wishes for peace and prosperity, favorable weather, fertile land, and abundant harvests.
The festival serves as historical evidence of the southward expansion, land reclamation, and village settlement undertaken by local communities. Through ceremonial practices, the community expresses the traditional values of gratitude to previous generations and remembrance of those who laid the foundations for the community.
During the festival, local people also pay tribute to the deities worshipped at the communal house, the earlier generations known as Tiền Hiền and Hậu Hiền, and the spirits of martyrs who contributed to protecting their homeland and country.
The festival further demonstrates community solidarity and the self-governing character of local society. The preparation and organization of the festival involve members of the community without distinction between men and women, creating a strong sense of collective participation.
Festival Schedule and Scale
The Tân An Ky Yen Festival is organized on two different scales according to the lunar calendar.
In the years of the Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Goat, Monkey, Dog, and Pig, the festival is held on a smaller scale, lasting one day, on the 15th day of the eleventh lunar month.
Every three years, in the years of the Rat, Rabbit, Horse, and Rooster, the festival is held on a larger scale for three days, from the 14th to the 16th day of the eleventh lunar month. During these major festival years, a traditional Hát Bội opera troupe performs for local residents in the evenings.
The traditional timing of Ky Yen festivals is also associated with the practical conditions of community life. Festivals held on nights with moonlight made it easier for villagers to attend activities that continued after dark. For communal houses located near waterways, such timing was also considered convenient for travel by boat. According to local tradition, some festival dates are associated with the return of the deity’s ceremonial seal to the village, providing an occasion for the community to celebrate and commemorate the event.
Main Rituals of the Ky Yen Festival
The Ky Yen Festival at Tân An Communal House includes a system of traditional rituals. The annual ceremony includes Thỉnh sắc, Cúng thần an vị, the ceremony honoring Hậu Bối and martyrs, and Đưa sắc.
During the major triennial festivals, additional rituals are performed, including Thỉnh sanh, Túc yết, Đàn cả, Xây chầu, Đại bội, and Tôn vương, together with traditional Hát Bội performances.
These rituals are conducted according to an established ceremonial order, expressing the relationship between the local community and the deities worshipped at the communal house while preserving practices handed down through generations.
Hát Bội in the Ky Yen Festival
Hát Bội, the traditional Vietnamese classical theater, is an important component of the Tân An Ky Yen Festival, particularly during the larger triennial celebrations. However, Hát Bội performed at a communal house is not simply entertainment. It also has a ritual function and is traditionally regarded as a form of performance offered to the deities.
For this reason, performers are expected to follow strict ceremonial conventions. Actors and actresses perform with solemnity and respect under the supervision of the người cầm chầu, the person responsible for the ceremonial drum.
The role of the cầm chầu is particularly important in Hát Bội performances at communal houses. According to folk tradition, this person represents both the deity and the village community, using the ceremonial drum to express praise or criticism of the performers. The person performing this role therefore needs a strong understanding of the repertoire, performance conventions, and drumming techniques, while maintaining fairness in judging the performance.
A Community Cultural Space
The Tân An Ky Yen Festival extends beyond religious ceremonies to create a broader community cultural space. Local residents participate collectively in preparing, organizing, and carrying out the rituals, strengthening connections among families, lineages, and members of the community.
The festival is also meaningful to people from Tân An who live and work elsewhere. During Ky Yen, many return to their hometown to participate in the festival, reconnect with the community, and pay tribute to earlier generations.
Every year, the festival attracts thousands of local residents and visitors from other areas. The continued practice of traditional rituals has helped the Tân An Ky Yen Festival remain an important part of the cultural life of the local community.
National Intangible Cultural Heritage
On January 12, 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision No. 60/QD-BVHTTDL, adding the Tân An Communal House Ky Yen Festival to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List under the category of Traditional Festivals.
This recognition reflects the cultural value of the festival within the community. Together with the architectural and artistic value of Tân An Communal House, the Ky Yen Festival contributes to the preservation of traditional beliefs, rituals, Hát Bội performance practices, and community customs passed down through generations.
Today, local residents continue to preserve and practice the festival’s traditional elements in a relatively complete form. From ceremonial rites and Hát Bội performances to community preparations and the return of people living far from home, the Tân An Ky Yen Festival remains a cultural gathering place where historical memory and contemporary community life come together.
Quick Information
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Heritage name | Tân An Communal House Ky Yen Festival |
| Communal house | Tân An Communal House, also known as Bến Thế Communal House |
| Location | Phú An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City |
| Type | Traditional Festival |
| Festival period | Eleventh lunar month |
| Annual festival | 15th day of the eleventh lunar month, lasting 1 day |
| Triennial festival | 14th to 16th day of the eleventh lunar month, lasting 3 days |
| Key activities | Traditional rituals, ceremonial rites, Hát Bội performances |
| National Intangible Cultural Heritage | Decision No. 60/QD-BVHTTDL, January 12, 2022 |
| Tân An Communal House | National-level Architectural and Artistic Relic, recognized in 2014 |
Location: Tân An Communal House (Bến Thế Communal House), Phú An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
