Hanoi (VNA) – Every year on the 13th day of the first lunar month, residents of La Phu village in An Khanh commune on the outskirts of Hanoi stage a vibrant procession of ceremonial pigs to the village communal house. The procession honours the tutelary deity in a ritual that blends spiritual devotion with community tradition.
While most Vietnamese festivals revolve around carrying a deity’s palanquin, La Phu’s spectacle stands apart. Here, the true stars are “ong lon”, literally “Mr. Pig” - massive, meticulously prepared hogs offered in gratitude for the legendary general Tinh Quoc Tam Lang, a heroic figure from the era of the sixth Hung King.
Local lore holds that Tam Lang was known for repelling foreign invaders and safeguarding the realm. Before leading his troops into battle, he ordered pigs slaughtered and sticky rice prepared as a hearty feast to bolster morale and reward loyalty. After his passing, grateful villagers elevated him to the status of tutelary spirit, a guardian watching over their lands and fortunes. Over the centuries, successive Vietnamese monarchs, from Le Dai Hanh and Tran Thai Tong to Le Thai To and the illustrious Emperor Quang Trung, bestowed royal decrees upon him, formally recognising his merits.
Strict selection and care
Preparation for the festival begins nearly a year in advance. As early as February, each hamlet within the village carefully selects one or two exceptional male pigs destined for the following year’s ceremony. The cost is shared among residents, with a designated household entrusted with the pigs’ upbringing.
Only pigs meeting strict physical standards, such as balanced proportions, straight backs, and unblemished pink-white skin, are chosen. Caretakers themselves must hail from reputable, stable families of good standing in the community.
The pigs are pampered like prized thoroughbreds, fed sticky rice porridge, eggs, and fresh vegetables, bathed daily, and protected from mosquitoes, with fans installed in summer and warm water or charcoal heaters in winter. By the time the festival arrives, each pig typically weighs 250–270 kg. In the final days before the process, the animals are fed vegetarian porridge to ensure ritual purity.
Elaborate evening procession
The procession takes place on the evening of the 13th lunar day. After being carefully cleaned and decorated, the pigs are placed on ornate palanquins and arranged in lifelike poses. Fat is skillfully preserved and used as a ceremonial covering, while organs are cooked and placed back inside the body as part of the offering.
Each hamlet decorates its pig differently, competing for recognition as the most impressive display. Villagers believe that a well-presented pig brings prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead.
Starting around 18:00, hundreds of villagers form separate processions representing each hamlet, carrying offerings, including sticky rice trays and ceremonial items, along village roads toward the communal house. The two-hour parade culminates at about 21:00 when 17 pigs are assembled for judging and ritual offerings. Six of the most elaborately prepared pigs are selected for placement in the main sanctuary, while the rest are displayed in the outer hall for worship.
The festival was added to Vietnam’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage list in June 2025 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a testament to the enduring power of community rituals in preserving local identity and historical memory./.
