Beautiful coastal villages: Nhon Ly - a hundred years of holding the fishing ceremony

From a small fishing village, Nhon Ly has now become one of the first community tourism villages in Gia Lai province (formerly Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province), offering visitors unforgettable experiences, from daily life to traditional festivals imbued with the sea.

Nhơn Lý – trăm năm giữ lễ cầu ngư - Ảnh 1. — Vung Bac in Nhon Ly fishing village is where the northeast monsoon winds blow.

Centennial Festival

Nhon Ly fishing village is the common name of the villages of Ly Hung, Ly Luong, Ly Chanh, Ly Hoa of Quy Nhon Dong Ward, Gia Lai Province. Previously, Nhon Ly fishing village was divided into 2, Vung Bac including Ly Hung and Ly Luong villages located in the north, where the northeast monsoon winds are received. The remaining is Vung Nom located in the south and receives the southwest wind. In both villages of the fishing village, there is a temple to worship Ong Nam Hai.

Nhơn Lý – trăm năm giữ lễ cầu ngư - Ảnh 2. — A corner of Nhon Ly village seen from Vung Nom

It is not clear when the village was founded, the elders only know that since birth, their ancestors have lived here. The most obvious mark of the village's age is the fishing festival that has existed for more than 2 centuries. The Xuong Ly lagoon fishing festival is held in Vung Nom. The Hung Luong lagoon fishing festival is held in Vung Bac.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Dinh, the fish praying festival of Xuong Ly and Hung Luong lagoons appeared more than 200 years ago. This festival is associated with the formation of Truong Lang (the first Nam Hai Mausoleum of the Vietnamese in Quy Nhon) in 1815.

Nhơn Lý – trăm năm giữ lễ cầu ngư - Ảnh 3. — The fishing festival in Nhon Ly fishing village has existed for over 200 years.

In 1839, Vung Nom was officially registered. Also in this year, the village officials chose a sacred location to rebuild and build the Nam Hai Whale Temple on the slope of Don Mountain (currently in Ly Chanh village), then brought all the whale remains from Truong Lang here and held a ceremony to welcome the spirit.

In the minds of fishermen, whales (whales, dolphins, sperm whales, etc.) are sacred gods of the South China Sea. They believe that whenever a storm hits, whales will lean against the side of the boat to prevent it from capsizing; when a person falls into the sea, whales will help them to shore. Therefore, whenever a whale washes ashore, villagers hold a funeral and worship it as if it were a relative.

Nhơn Lý – trăm năm giữ lễ cầu ngư - Ảnh 4. — In 2024, the Xuong Ly Van Dam Fishing Festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Over hundreds of years, the fishing festival is not only a spiritual ritual but also a symbol of humanity's attachment to the ocean. In 2024, the Xuong Ly fishing festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, affirming its special value in the Vietnamese cultural treasure.

Tourist destination

Nhon Ly attracts tourists not only by its century-old festivals, but also by its rustic scenery and the simple life of coastal residents.

Nhơn Lý – trăm năm giữ lễ cầu ngư - Ảnh 5. — Nhon Ly attracts tourists not only by its century-old festivals, but also by its rustic scenery and the simple life of coastal residents.

At dawn, the sun, like a piece of coal, gradually rose from the sea and dyed the sky pink. The sea seemed to wake up, each wave gently lapping against the shore, creating a gentle symphony. Wooden boats anchored near the shore bobbed with each wave, above the shore, a long line of colorful basket boats peacefully waited for a new day to begin.

The new highlight of the village is the colorful murals painted on the walls of the houses. The murals turn small paths into artistic spaces, telling stories about the sea and the people of Nhon Ly, creating a favorite check-in corner for young tourists.

Nhơn Lý – trăm năm giữ lễ cầu ngư - Ảnh 6. — Village murals create a highlight to attract tourists

The community tourism model in Nhon Ly gives visitors the experience of "living like a seafarer": following fishermen out to sea, night squid fishing, participating in net pulling and enjoying fresh seafood. The village is also the gateway to famous landscapes such as Eo Gio or Ky Co - white sand beaches, turquoise water.

Nhon Ly is not only a tourist destination but also a place to find peace, immerse yourself in the fresh air, explore the cultural beauty and feel the genuine humanity of coastal fishermen.

Nhơn Lý – trăm năm giữ lễ cầu ngư - Ảnh 7. — Coming to Nhon Ly, visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of the beaches with fine white sand and turquoise water.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Danh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quy Nhon Dong Ward, Nhon Ly fishing village (Quy Nhon Dong Ward) is located in the Sa Huynh relic area, which used to be home to Cham and Vietnamese people, and still has many valuable relics. At Nam Hai Tomb, Hung Luong lagoon, there are 6 royal decrees of the Nguyen Dynasty (from Minh Mang year 7 to Khai Dinh year 9), mainly conferring the title of god on Nam Hai and recognizing the contributions of the villagers. In addition, Ly Chanh, Ly Hung, and Ly Luong villages still have ancient wells built by the Cham people, with clear water that never dries up, and are of historical and daily value.

"Nhon Ly is aiming to develop sustainable community tourism, exploiting the advantages of marine ecology and cuisine, combining the preservation of traditional culture such as singing and singing, and the heritage of Nam Hai Ong Lang. The locality also focuses on promoting and linking tours with Quy Nhon Ward, training tourism human resources and building the movement "Each Nhon Ly resident is a tourism ambassador", to create a friendly and attractive image for tourists", Mr. Danh added.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-ngoi-lang-tuyet-dep-ven-bien-nhon-ly-tram-nam-giu-le-cau-ngu-185250820170217798.htm