Ninh Thuan Hosts the 6th Cham Ethnic Cultural Festival in September
	Indian Writer Impressed by Vietnam’s Vibrant Cham Culture

This year, Roya Haji Festival of the Cham community takes place from May 27 to 29, 2026. As early as May 26, a festive atmosphere had already filled Cham villages across An Giang. The An Giang Provincial People’s Committee organized a gathering to extend greetings at the Party Committee headquarters of Chau Phong Commune, attended by provincial leaders, representatives of departments, agencies, local authorities, as well as numerous religious dignitaries, officials, and reputable figures within the Islamic community.

Cham people attend the gathering. (Photo: NT)

This annual activity not only demonstrates the care and attention of Party committees and authorities toward ethnic minority communities, but also contributes to strengthening the great national unity bloc, creating a joyful and uplifting atmosphere for local people to celebrate the festival warmly and safely.

Haji festival - A cultural and religious beauty of the Cham community

At present, the Islamic community in An Giang has more than 21,000 followers, practicing their faith at 12 mosques, 16 small mosques, and one centralized religious gathering point. These mosques are not only places of worship but also communal cultural spaces where generations are connected and where the moral values and fine traditions of the Cham people are preserved.

During Roya Haji Festival, Cham people dress in vibrant traditional attire and gather at mosques for prayers, visit relatives, share food, and support disadvantaged families. It is also an occasion for family reunions, remembrance of ancestors, and prayers for peace, happiness, and prosperity.

Speaking at the gathering, Le Van Phuoc, Vice Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee, affirmed that Roya Haji Festival carries profound meanings of faith, compassion, and the spirit of doing good. The cultural beauty of the Cham community has enriched the diverse cultural landscape of An Giang Province.

Leaders of An Giang Province visit and encourage Cham people. (Photo: NT)

One of the important rituals during the festival is fasting in accordance with Islamic teachings. According to Ma Ri Giah, before and after the festival, followers observe fasting from early morning until evening as a way to discipline themselves and strive for purity of the soul and compassion.

“Fasting is not merely abstaining from food and drink, but also an opportunity for each person to practice self-restraint, live with discipline, and understand the hardships faced by the poor to share and support the community more,” Ma Ri Giah shared.

For Muslim followers, this is also an expression of faith and reverence toward Allah. During these days, men usually go to mosques to recite prayers, while women pray in separate areas within their homes, all directed toward the values of goodness and peace.

The lives of the Cham community continue to improve

Over the years, alongside efforts to preserve cultural values, An Giang Province has consistently paid attention to improving both the material and spiritual lives of the Cham community through various practical ethnic and religious policies.

A special musical performance imbued with the rich cultural identity of the Cham community. (Photo: NT)

From an area once facing numerous hardships, Cham villages today have undergone significant changes. Rural transportation systems, electricity, clean water supply, schools, and healthcare stations in areas with large Cham populations have been comprehensively invested in. Local people have proactively diversified their livelihoods through agricultural production, trading, services, and the development of traditional crafts such as sarong weaving, kama weaving, and embroidery.

At present, the entire province has only 102 poor Cham households remaining - a figure that clearly reflects the effectiveness of social welfare policies and the determination of local people to overcome difficulties.

ANa, a reputable figure among the Cham community in Khanh Binh Commune, An Phu District, said that thanks to support in infrastructure, loans, and conditions for production development, local people’s lives have become increasingly stable, while children now enjoy better educational opportunities.

“This serves as motivation for local people to feel secure in working and producing, taking care of their families, and joining hands to build an increasingly prosperous and beautiful homeland,” ANa shared.

Leaders of An Giang Province take commemorative photos with the Cham community at the gathering. (Photo: NT)

During this year’s Roya Haji Festival, An Giang Province established several delegations to visit and present gifts to Cham people in localities such as Chau Phong, Vinh Hau, My Duc, Nhon Hoi, and Khanh Binh, ensuring that every individual and household could enjoy a joyful and warm festival season.

One of the bright highlights within the Cham community in An Giang is the spirit of “living a good secular life and a beautiful religious life,” always accompanying the locality’s development. Cham people actively participate in patriotic emulation movements, contribute to educational promotion funds, build Great Solidarity houses, support disadvantaged residents, and cooperate in maintaining local security and social order.

According to Mach Sa Les, Deputy Head of the Representative Board of the Islamic Community of An Giang Province, religious dignitaries, imams, and mosque management boards have consistently promoted their exemplary roles and encouraged local people to properly comply with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s laws and policies, while preserving moral values, civilized lifestyles, and community solidarity.

“Religious dignitaries are not only spiritual guides but also a strong bridge between the authorities and the Muslim community. Through their prestige and understanding of religious teachings, they have contributed to spreading the humane values of Islam in social life,” Mach Sa Les emphasized.

According to leaders of the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee, in the coming time the province will continue to fully, promptly, and effectively implement ethnic and religious policies; focus on infrastructure development, sustainable livelihood support, improvement of education and healthcare quality, vocational training, and job creation for the Cham community.

At the same time, the province will prioritize preserving and promoting intangible cultural values such as language, script, traditional costumes, and distinctive festivals of the Cham people, thereby contributing to safeguarding ethnic cultural identity amid the flow of modern development.

Roya Haji Festival, therefore, is not only a sacred religious celebration but also a vivid symbol of solidarity, humanity, and the shared aspiration to join hands in building an increasingly prosperous and compassionate An Giang homeland.

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