The annual Vía Bà Chúa Xứ Goddess Festival is the largest spiritual festival in southern Việt Nam. — Photo tcdulichtphcm.vn

AN GIANG — With visitor arrivals and pilgrim numbers expected to rise sharply at the Sam Mountain National Tourist Area in Vĩnh Tế Ward, An Giang Province, during the peak period of the 2026 Vía Bà Chúa Xứ (The Lady of the Realm) Goddess Festival, local authorities have proactively rolled out a range of coordinated measures to ensure public security, traffic safety and improved services for visitors.

The Sam Mountain National Tourist Area in Vĩnh Tế Ward hosts the annual Vía Bà Chúa Xứ Goddess Festival, the largest spiritual festival in southern Việt Nam.

Each year, the event attracts more than four million domestic and international visitors.

The 2026 festival will take place from June 6 to 12 (the 21st to 27th days of the fourth lunar month), featuring a series of traditional rituals such as the Bathing Ceremony, the Procession of Sacred Decrees, the Túc Yết offering ceremony, the Xây Chầu ritual performance, the Main Offering Ceremony and the Return of the Sacred Decrees. 

A new feature of this year’s festival is the combination of traditional religious rites with modern artistic performances, carefully staged and creatively designed to enhance the locality’s spiritual and cultural tourism products.

In 2014, the festival was included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In 2023, it was honoured as an “Outstanding Cultural Event of the Asia-Pacific Region”. 

On December 4, 2024, the Vía Bà Chúa Xứ Goddess Festival was officially inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

During the opening ceremony of the 2025 festival, held in late March 2025, An Giang Province received UNESCO’s certificate of inscription.

The 2026 festival marks the second year since the heritage was recognised by UNESCO.

Beyond being the largest spiritual festival in southern Việt Nam, it holds special cultural and religious significance while contributing to tourism development and economic growth in An Giang Province.

To ensure a safe and orderly environment for residents and visitors paying homage and sightseeing throughout the festival period, the Vĩnh Tế Ward People’s Committee has instructed the ward police force to develop a comprehensive plan covering public security and traffic safety.

Ngô Thị Mỹ Ngọc, chairwoman of the Vĩnh Tế Ward People’s Committee, said security and public order measures had been implemented early, with relevant forces coordinating traffic diversion and regulation on key routes leading to the Sam Mountain National Tourist Area. 

Additional authorised parking areas have been arranged, and authorities are determined to prevent localised congestion and any unauthorised increases in parking fees.

The festival holds special cultural and religious significance while contributing to tourism development and economic growth in An Giang Province. — Photo tcdulichtphcm.vn

“The ward has directed the police force to simultaneously implement a range of professional measures, including plain-clothes operations, to promptly detect and apprehend pickpockets and thieves. Acts of visitor harassment, persistent solicitation and superstitious activities that create a negative impression and affect the image of Sam Mountain tourism will be dealt with strictly,” Ngọc said.

According to Ngọc, hotline numbers have also been publicly displayed at key locations, including car parks and the Bà Chúa Xứ Temple area, to receive and promptly address reports from visitors concerning harassment, service overcharging, security issues, lost property or traffic congestion. 

Functional forces will be on duty around the clock to provide assistance and respond quickly to incidents, helping improve management efficiency and giving pilgrims greater peace of mind during their visit to Sam Mountain.

To ensure the festival is held safely and securely, Vĩnh Tế Ward has also instructed the police force to intensify crime prevention efforts, traffic management, fire prevention and firefighting, as well as search and rescue operations.

Military forces will coordinate patrols in adjacent areas, while grassroots teams will assist visitors and remind individuals not to encroach on pavements or solicit customers.

Alongside efforts to maintain public security and order, Vĩnh Tế Ward is focusing on building the image of Sam Mountain as a safe, civilised and friendly tourist destination.

Authorities have stepped up inspections of price listings, cracked down on overcharging and visitor harassment, and tightened food safety controls at service establishments. — VNS