5+ Festivals in Sóc Trăng Must Attend

Festivals in Sóc Trăng that you Must Attend. Sóc Trăng is a unique province where the Kinh, Hoa, Khmer, and Cham cultures blend harmoniously. Known for its beautiful “Thai-style” temples, Sóc Trăng also stands out for its distinctive mix of diverse cultural influences. This makes Sóc Trăng an increasingly popular destination for visitors to the Mekong Delta. Join SOHA GROUP to explore this special region and discover its unique travel experiences!

 Sóc Trăng Travel Tips for Getting There

Based on experience, there are three main ways to travel to Sóc Trăng:

• From Ho Chi Minh City: You can take a passenger bus, such as Thành Bưởi, Phương Trang, or Mai Linh, or opt to ride a motorbike. Both options are convenient.
• From Northern or Central Vietnam: Fly into Can Tho Airport, then take a bus or a rental car to Sóc Trăng.
• Guided Tours: If you prefer a seamless experience, SOHA GROUP offers guided tours that handle everything from meals to accommodation. This way, you won’t need to worry about “where to eat” or “where to stay.”

For those who love adventurous travel, taking a motorbike to explore Sóc Trăng is a great choice. Just be sure to check a map or ask locals for directions to avoid getting lost.

Must-Attend Festivals in Sóc Trăng

Traditional Khmer Festivals in Sóc Trăng

• Phước Biển Festival

The Phước Biển Festival, celebrated in Sóc Trăng is a deeply meaningful and spiritually rich event for the local community, especially for the Khmer people. Taking place in a seaside setting, this festival is primarily a thanksgiving ritual, where participants pay homage to the gods of the sea and pray for calm waters, abundant harvests, and the well-being of local fishermen and their families. It’s also a time to honor ancestors and express gratitude for their blessings.

At the heart of the festival are colorful and symbolic ceremonies, where offerings such as flowers, incense, and fruits are brought to the shore or temples dedicated to sea deities. People gather to chant prayers, perform traditional dances, and enjoy vibrant music that reflects the harmonious blend of Khmer and Vietnamese cultural elements.

Rituals like these are not only spiritual acts but also serve as a time for the community to bond, exchange stories, and pass on cultural traditions to younger generations.

Visitors attending the Phước Biển Festival Sóc Trăng are welcomed warmly, and often invited to join in the dances, sample local food, and observe the captivating traditional customs. It’s an immersive way to gain insight into the rich cultural and spiritual fabric of Sóc Trăng.

• Chôl Chnăm Thmây Festival

The Chôl Chnăm Thmây Festival, celebrated in Sóc Trăng and other parts of southern Vietnam, is a vibrant New Year festival for the Khmer community, taking place in mid-April. This three-day celebration marks the end of the traditional harvest season, serving as a time to honor ancestors, renew bonds with family and friends, and embrace hopes for a prosperous year ahead.

The name itself, Chôl Chnăm Thmây, translates to “Entering the New Year.”

Each day of the festival has its unique ceremonies and rituals. On the first day, called Maha Sangkran, people visit local pagodas to offer prayers and make symbolic offerings such as flowers, rice, and fruit to the Buddha, seeking blessings for health and happiness.

The second day, known as Wanabot, is a day of charity, when people donate to those in need, honor their ancestors, and participate in community gatherings. On this day, homes are meticulously cleaned to signify a fresh start, and families often prepare special foods to share with neighbors and monks.

The final day, Thngai Laeung Saka, involves rituals for the washing of Buddha statues and personal cleansing to signify renewal, protection, and good fortune for the coming year.

Traditional games and dances bring a festive atmosphere, with people of all ages joining in. The lively atmosphere includes traditional Khmer dance performances, cultural games like tug-of-war and bamboo pole dance, and exchanges of water in friendly water-splashing battles—a gesture to wash away the old year’s misfortunes and invite blessings.

• Thác Côn Festival

The Thác Côn Festival, celebrated in Sóc Trăng, is a unique Khmer tradition that pays homage to ancient spirits and deities associated with nature, agriculture, and ancestral protection. Typically held in the early spring, this festival involves solemn rituals, vibrant dances, and captivating music, blending spiritual reverence with community celebration.

Thác Côn is celebrated near temples, where villagers gather for elaborate ceremonies. The festival opens with a sacred ritual, where offerings such as flowers, rice, fruits, and incense are presented to local deities, symbolizing gratitude for past blessings and hopes for future prosperity. Monks and elders lead prayers, invoking protection for the village and guidance for the coming agricultural cycle, while families seek blessings for health and success.

One of the most striking aspects of Thác Côn is the traditional music and dance performances. Dancers, dressed in colorful Khmer costumes, reenact mythological tales and scenes from ancient Khmer history, symbolizing the harmony between humans and nature. Traditional instruments, such as the roneat (a bamboo xylophone) and samphor (a double-headed drum), fill the air with enchanting sounds that add to the festival’s mystical ambiance.

In addition to the rituals and performances, the Thác Côn Festival includes community feasts where families come together to enjoy Khmer delicacies, from savory curries to sweet sticky rice desserts. There are also traditional games, encouraging villagers and visitors alike to partake in friendly competition and celebrate community bonds.

• Dâng Bông Festival

The Dâng Bông Festival, a vibrant cultural celebration in Sóc Trăng, is deeply rooted in the Khmer community’s traditions, focusing on themes of gratitude, renewal, and spiritual connection. Known as the “Flower Offering Festival,” this event celebrates the Khmer people’s reverence for nature, their ancestors, and the divine. It is usually held in conjunction with the rice harvest season, making it both a thanksgiving celebration for the year’s bounty and a prayer for future abundance.

During the Dâng Bông Festival, community members gather at local temples, bringing fresh flowers, fruits, and other offerings arranged in intricate designs to honor Buddha and the spirits of the land. Villagers meticulously prepare these offerings, symbolizing purity, respect, and the hope for blessings. The offerings are often vibrant and carefully crafted, creating a stunning visual display that fills the temple with a sense of sacred beauty and devotion.

Central to the festival are the chanting ceremonies led by monks, who bless the attendees and offer prayers for the well-being and prosperity of the community. The rituals are accompanied by Khmer traditional music played on classic instruments like the roneat and khim, creating a peaceful, meditative ambiance that enhances the spiritual atmosphere.

Alongside the religious elements, the Dâng Bông Festival includes a wide range of community activities. Traditional dance performances, storytelling, and music showcase Khmer culture, with dancers adorned in brightly colored costumes that reflect the joyful spirit of the event.

These performances often recount tales of Khmer mythology or highlight themes of harmony with nature, echoing the festival’s core values of gratitude and respect.

• Ok Om Bok Festival

The Ok Om Bok Festival, also known as the “Moon Worship Festival,” is one of the most celebrated traditional festivals among the Khmer community in Sóc Trăng and throughout the Mekong Delta. Held annually in the lunar month of October, the festival is dedicated to the moon deity, who is believed to govern the water, fertility, and prosperity of the land. It’s a time of gratitude for a successful harvest season and of prayers for future abundance.

The festivities are marked by a unique and enchanting blend of spiritual rituals, traditional Khmer performances, and exciting cultural activities. The main ceremony occurs at moonrise, with families gathering to give offerings to the moon. Traditional offerings include bananas, rice flakes (known as cốm dẹp), coconut, sweet potatoes, and sugarcane. These are laid out on small altars, and the community, especially the elders, give thanks to the moon deity for a bountiful harvest. Following the offering, children are usually invited to eat the cốm dẹp as a symbolic blessing for health and happiness.

One of the most iconic elements of the Ok Om Bok Festival is the ngo boat races, which draw large crowds from across the region. These boat races are held on the Mekong River and feature long, narrow boats manned by teams of rowers. Each boat, often decorated with colorful patterns, represents a local village or temple. The rowers train rigorously in the weeks leading up to the event, displaying incredible skill, speed, and teamwork. Spectators gather along the riverbanks, cheering as the boats glide through the water in a thrilling contest of endurance and unity.

The festival also showcases Khmer folk art, with performances of traditional music, da

nce, and shadow puppetry. A highlight is the Lam Thol dance, a Khmer folk dance characterized by lively rhythms and colorful costumes. Storytelling is another cherished activity, where community elders narrate tales of Khmer folklore, recounting the mythical origins of the Ok Om Bok Festival and the blessings of the moon deity.

Food stalls line the festival grounds, serving an array of Khmer specialties. Visitors can enjoy dishes such as nom banh chok (Khmer noodles), bánh tét (sticky rice cake), and an assortment of traditional sweets, such as sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves and coconut treats. The communal meals foster a sense of togetherness, where families, friends, and visitors gather to savor Khmer culinary delights.

For both locals and visitors, the Ok Om Bok Festival offers a deep cultural experience that combines ancient Khmer spiritual traditions with lively, modern-day festivities. The festival not only celebrates the rich agricultural heritage of the Khmer people but also strengthens community bonds and preserves cultural identity, making it one of Sóc Trăng’s most vibrant and meaningful events.