Hoa My, which appears on a map of Viet Nam dated 1825 (the fifth year of King Minh Mang’s reign), now belongs to Hoa My Group, Hoa Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District. A festival is held annually on the 12th day of the first lunar month to remind the young people of the tradition “uong nuoc nho nguon” (be grateful to your ancestors), and to recognise their successes and what they should do in the next year. Because of the war, the festival did not take place for a long period, but it has been held again every year since 1994.   Hoa My Communal House Festival lasts for a day and a half and is in two parts.  The ceremony part takes a traditional form consisting of “le vong” and “le hoi ky”, whilst the “Phan Hoi” (gala activities part) includes traditional and modern games which have become key features of the festival.  At the beginning of the festival, traditionally there is a running race which attracts the participation of many farmers, youths and...

Perhaps no one visits the Marble Mountains without also visiting the Non Nuoc Stone Sculpture Village, where the nationally and internationally famous marble handicrafts are produced.   Non Nuoc stone carving is said to have a nearly two-hundred-year history.  The village was initially established in the late 18th century by Huynh Ba Quat, a craftsman from Thanh Hoa Province, and local people have earned their living from stone carving here since the 19th century.  The present Non Nuoc Stone Sculpture Village is located in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District.  Currently, there is a temple to the “Stone Carving Founders” at the Marble Mountains, and many ancestor anniversary activities are held in the village on the 6th day of the first lunar month every year. Visitors will be very interested in, and perhaps surprised by, the artistic stone works exhibited here. Polished, detailed and sophisticated statues are carved using both...

Tuy Loan is an ancient village in Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District, about 15km to the west of Da Nang. This village is famous for sesame “banh trang” (rice paper/rice cracker) and mi quang (quang noodles).   The village residents usually put “banh trang” on altars on death anniversaries or at Tet.  Today, the Tuy Loan “banh trang” has become a speciality of Da Nang. Tuy Loan Village produces grilled “banh trang” which has a round shape and a diameter of approximately 50cm.  Tuy Loan “banh trang” is thicker than “banh trang” made in other places.  It is well-known throughout the country for its qualities which are highly appreciated.