The new rice festival of the Co Tu ethnic people is re-enacted in the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay town on the outskirts of Hanoi.

Rice is one of the indispensable items in the daily life of various ethnic groups, including the Co Tu.

The shaman and elderly prepare offerings ahead of the crop-praying festival.

Locals come together to plant a “Cay Neu”, which is an extremely tall bamboo tree. In the old days, Vietnamese people erected tall bamboo poles decorated with red garment strips in the belief that the poles prevented ghosts from entering the community during the festival.

Elderly people perform a ritual to show their sincere thanks to the genies.

The ritual of slaughtering buffalo makes up a crucial part of the festival.

Co Tu ethnic women perform traditional dances to show their respect to the genies and to expect a new bumper crop ahead.

The ritual of praying for a bumper crop has been passed down from generation to generation.