Canh Duong village is home to approximately 7,000 fishing boats. Local fishermen practice the annual ritual to express gratitude for nature and their desire for a peaceful and prosperous life.

The ritual takes place annually on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

This year the event limits gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The highlight of the festival is the worshiping of the whale skeletons which are maintained at the Whale Worshiping Shrine in Canh Duong village.

The shrine is closely associated with the legend of Mr. and Mrs. Whale who saved fishermen from heavy storms before floating ashore to Canh Duong and dying. Two giant whale skeletons, which are the biggest and oldest in Vietnam, have been kept and worshiped at the shrine for the past 200 years.

Locals give offerings to the whales as they pray for happiness, peace, fortune, and favourable weather.

After the whale worshiping ritual is finished, fishermen in Quang Binh province are ready to go fishing offshore.