The Go Thap Festival is a vibrant, large-scale celebration that showcases the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of Dong Thap province.

Held at the special National Relic Site of Go Thap, it comprises two main traditional events: the Via Ba Chua Xu Go Thap Festival and the Commemoration of Thien Ho Duong and Doc Binh Kieu. This festival has been officially recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The origin of Ba Chua Xu worship: The worship of Ba Chua Xu (Chua Xu Holy Mother) at Go Thap originates from the Vietnamese tradition of goddess worship associated with wet-rice agriculture, which was preserved and developed during the people's southward expansion. According to legend, locals built a simple temple out of light materials to worship her in 1914. After being completely destroyed by war, it was rebuilt on the old foundation and eventually relocated and constructed into its current sturdy structure in 1996.

The story of the two heroes: The festival also honors Thien Ho Duong (Vo Duy Duong) and Doc Binh Kieu (Nguyen Tan Kieu), two patriotic heroes who used Go Thap as their major resistance base against French colonialism. Following the traditional belief of "born as generals, died as gods," the local people built a memorial temple after their deaths in 1866 to show deep gratitude. The community has maintained this worship and organized their commemoration ceremonies for over 150 years.

Traditional Rituals: The festival begins with a formal worshipping process featuring numerous elaborate folk rites. These ceremonies are performed to express the nation's principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," showing gratitude to the predecessors who protected the homeland.

Supplemental Ceremonies: Alongside the main rites, there are ceremonies dedicated to worshipping the God of Agriculture and praying for good luck, nice weather, a plentiful harvest, and a peaceful life.

Cultural & Sports Celebrations: Once the formal rituals conclude, the exciting celebration begins. Participants can immerse themselves in various cultural, artistic, and sports activities, as well as fascinating traditional competitions.

Festival Fair: Visitors can explore a lively festival fair, where they can find and purchase various local delicacies and regional items for their family and friends.

Community & Volunteer Activities: A deeply ingrained spiritual and cultural highlight of the festival is community volunteerism. Many individuals gather to do good deeds, such as wrapping traditional cakes, arranging flowers for the ancestors, and serving free water to attendees.

Free Vegetarian Meals: A unique and beloved feature of the festival is the opportunity to enjoy fantastic free vegetarian dinners at the community pagoda, warmly prepared and served by happy volunteers