The celebration is a belief of worshipping in agriculture, imbued with the culture of Na Nghiu people, to thank heaven, earth, and ancestors for blessing locals with good harvests and to pray for good weather for the following seasons.

This year’s event comprised a thanksgiving ritual, including four activities: plowing and sowing seeds; planting rice and chasing birds; harvesting rice and pounding young rice; and inviting ancestors and gods to come to enjoy meals, drink wine, and dance with locals. The offering tray included traditional dishes of the Thai ethnic people in Na Nghiu commune, such as young rice, sticky rice, vegetables, wild fruits, pork, chicken, grilled fish and bee pupae. The shaman performed the rituals showing respect and gratitude to the gods, ancestors and kings who govern the land, sky, rivers, and mountains, and praying for a prosperous and happy life for locals.

During the festive part, cultural, art and sport activities and unique ethnic games were held, including Thai folk singing and Xoe dancing, pounding green rice, pounding cham cheo, making sticky rice, displaying food trays, walking on balance bridge, climbing up pole covered with fat, throwing cloth balls, and arranging booths.

The New Rice Celebration in Na Nghiu commune has left a deep impression on tourists about a rich and beautiful land along the Ma River.