Honoring Khanh Hoa’ aloeswoood traditional industry

Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2025 will feature aloeswoood festival for the first time. This aims to honor Khanh Hoa Province’ aloeswoood traditional industry as well as provide data for the documents of the intangible cultural heritage namely "Folk Knowledge - Khanh Hoa traditional aloeswoood industry”. 

Performance of aloeswoood procession in a music program in Nha Trang City

Aiming to promote the images of the country and Khanh Hoa people in close relationship with aloeswoood; honor and introduce the cultural and historical values of Khanh Hoa, the land of aloeswoood, to domestic and international tourists; and strengthen the position and brand of Khanh Hoa aloeswoood, Khanh Hoa Province Aloeswoood Association has proposed the organization of the aloeswoood festival.

As stated by Bien Quoc Dung, head of Khanh Hoa Aloeswoood Association, the aloeswoood festival 2025 is part of a series of events celebrating the cultural heritage of aloeswoood and Thien Y A Na Holy Mother. Therefore, the festival will be solemnly organized with traditional rituals and ceremonies, along with introduction of the aloeswoood industry. Additionally, the festival will feature traditional values such as studiousness, respect for teachers, filial duty, and kindness, which is expected to raise young people’s awareness of responsibilities towards communities. 

The aloeswoood festival takes place at National Monument of Am Chua (Dien Khanh District), Special National Monument of Ponagar Temple; Provincial Museum, Cu Huan Street (Nha Trang City) from June 3 to 9. The main activities of the festival include incense offering at Am Chua Monument; aloeswood offering and aloeswood procession, flower lanterns floating joined by 1,000 people and 10 unicorn, lion and dragon dance teams; display and introduction of aloeswoood products; demonstration of aloeswoood processing; honoring typical aloeswoood businesses and artisans.

Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, on January 3, issued an official document approving the proposal of the Department of Culture and Sports (now the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) to prepare documents for proposing "Folk Knowledge - Khanh Hoa traditional aloeswoood industry” as national intangible cultural heritage.

 Giang Dinh
Translated by H.N