Lying on the coastline in Hau Loc, Thanh Hoa Province, Ngu Loc fishing village has existed for a long time. The life of the villagers is closely connected with the sea and their fortunes and risks depend on the sea. 

    To pray for good catch, the villagers usually organize the Cau Ngu (fish-praying) festival from 21^st to 24^th of February according to the lunar calendar. This is a traditional festival full of cultural identities of the coastal areas, attracting thousands of people. 

    The most important offering at the Cau Ngu festival is carrying a Long Chau boat – the seat of the gods of the sea. During the festival different families in the commune who participate in the boat procession pray for clement weather, peace in the country, people’s safety, calm sea and a good catch. They also pray to the gods of the sea to protect the fishermen and their equipment when they go out to the sea. 

   During the festival, many cultural activities are organized, such as competitions of fishing for squid, drawing up the nets and playing chess. Love-duet singing and musical instrument performance are held in the evening and volleyball matches are held in the afternoon. At the end of the festival, the organizing committee will burn the Long Chau boat and release the ash to the sea, hoping that the gods of the sea will protect the fishermen and villagers and endow them with good health and prosperity. Cau Ngu festival is the most unique festival of the fishermen in Thanh Hoa coastal area to honour the locals’ traditional cultural values and enhance the fishermen’s belief.