Long Tong Festival is a significant celebration of the Tay people in Chiem Hoa, Na Hang and Lam Binh districts in the Northern province of Tuyen Quang in gratitude and supplication for good weather and productive harvest.   “Long Tong” means “going to the field” in the local Tay language. It is celebrated between the 4th and 10th of the first lunar month with a fusion of holy and entertaining activities which made it an “intangible cultural heritage” as officially identified by the government.

The festival begins with a procession at dawn which symbolizes the going of the field of the whole event. Seven strong men swinging branches lead the long walk believing that this act will scare evil entities. A couple of lion dances are also performed during the procession. This is followed by an offering consisting of nine large trays containing cakes, boiled chicken, pork, chicken eggs, fruits, white alcohol, corn seeds, sesame seeds, soya seeds, rice seeds and steamed glutinous rice dyed in five colors. The trays are placed on the heads of nine girls and offered to the God of Agriculture Than Nong and God of Soil Tho Dia.  

A ritual prayer is then performed conducted by a shaman who offers a prayer to the heaven and earth; the gods of mountains and streams; and patron deities for good harvest, health, peace and prosperity. An altar made of a three-layer bamboo shelf is set up to place the offerings. The first layer is called Thuong an where the primary offerings are placed. The second layer is called Trung an, the third layer Ha an. Four trays are placed on each layer, facing the East at Bach Than Mountain.   After the serious rituals, fun and enjoyment follows composed of traditional agricultural and folk games like tug-of-war, ploughing, dragging-in, singing, dancing, cooking and shooting contests. Nem con or con throwing is an essential game wherein con or cloth balls are thrown through three circles hung on trees. The circles symbolize heaven, earth and mankind which when successfully done, are believed to bring favourable weather and good harvest.   Tong Long Festival is such an important event to the province that it was awarded the National Intangible Cultural Heritage certificate by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Deputy Minister Dang Thi Bich Lien presented the prestigious title to the officials of Tuyen Quang on February 21, 2013.