Guide to Joining the Quan The Am Festival at the Marble Mountains, Da Nang

The Quan The Am Festival at the Marble Mountains is one of the largest folk-religious festivals in Central Vietnam, and it is recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage. In 2027, the main day, the 19th day of the second lunar month, falls on 26 March 2027 in the grounds of the Quan The Am Pagoda at the foot of Kim Son hill, in the Ngu Hanh Son district. Travelling to the festival at this time needs careful route planning, because the roads leading to the pagoda usually carry large numbers of pilgrims, and the authorities run their own traffic management plans.

The meaning and timing of the 2027 Quan The Am Festival

The Quan The Am Festival takes place every year from the 17th to the 19th day of the second lunar month at the Quan The Am Pagoda, at the foot of Kim Son hill in the Marble Mountains scenic area (Su Van Hanh Street, Hoa Hai ward). In 2027, the programme runs from 24 to 26 March 2027 in the solar calendar. The main day, Friday 26 March 2027 (the 19th day of the second lunar month), holds the most solemn ritual observances.

The ceremonies carry a strong traditional Buddhist character. They include a procession of light, the opening of sutra recitation, prayers for the nation’s prosperity and the people’s peace, and the procession of the sacred statue of Quan The Am Bodhisattva around the foot of Kim Son hill and along the banks of the Co Co River. The festivities run alongside folk cultural activities such as traditional boat races on the Co Co River, floating prayer lanterns at night, a Buddhist calligraphy exhibition, painting and a Zen tea ceremony. The festival draws tens of thousands of Buddhists and visitors from all directions to the Non Nuoc Buddhist land to pray for peace for their families.

Traffic management and choosing pick-up points on festival days

During the peak days of the festival, especially early on the 19th day of the second lunar month when the official procession takes place, traffic heading towards Le Van Hien, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Su Van Hanh roads rises very quickly. Traffic police set up a safety cordon and restrict cars from entering Su Van Hanh road right in front of the pagoda gate, to protect the procession and the pilgrims walking to the site.

To keep the trip relaxed and avoid cars getting stuck in the crowd, Sun Travel uses a flexible pick-up and drop-off arrangement at open points outside the traffic cordon:

• Drivers collect the group from their hotel or home in central Da Nang or Hoi An, and set off early to avoid the congested periods at the bridges leading into the Ngu Hanh Son district.
• When you reach the foot of the hill, the driver stops at a convenient point on Le Van Hien Street or at the junction with Nguyen Duy Trinh Street, about 300 to 400 metres from the Quan The Am Pagoda gate. You only need to walk for a few minutes along the path around the hill to reach the festival grounds.
• After the ceremonies and sightseeing at the pagoda, call your driver about 10 minutes beforehand. The car will be waiting at the agreed meeting point on the edge of the ring road, so the group can board straight away without standing in the heat.

Clothing and preparation for a spring pilgrimage

The Quan The Am Festival is a solemn place of faith, so keep a few practical points in mind to make the trip both respectful and comfortable:

• Modest, neat clothing: Choose long-sleeved, discreet clothes in soft colours, such as a blue ao lam (the traditional top worn to pagodas), an ao dai or neat office wear. Avoid sleeveless tops, short skirts or shorts when you enter the main shrine and the ritual areas.
• Comfortable footwear: The grounds around the pagoda and the foot of Kim Son hill include many natural stone paths and steep steps. Soft-soled trainers, flat shoes or non-slip sandals suit walking continuously between the ritual sites.
• Essential personal items: Bring a sun hat, a compact umbrella, bottled water and a hand fan. During long outdoor ceremonies, such as the procession or the dragon boat race, these items help you look after your health all morning.

Combining the festival with a half-day or full-day tour

If you start from central Da Nang or Hoi An, you can easily add the festival to a full cultural and spiritual programme:

• Half-day programme linking the sights (about 4 to 5 hours): Leave at 07:00 to visit the Quan The Am Pagoda for the procession and to offer incense for peace. By 09:30, the car takes you to Thuy Son hill, 1.5 km away, to visit Tam Thai Pagoda and Huyen Khong Cave, or drives along the Hoang Sa coastal road up to the Son Tra Peninsula to see Linh Ung Pagoda at Bai But. Details of this route are on the half-day Linh Ung – Non Nuoc tour page. For how long a visit to the Marble Mountains takes on an ordinary day, read the article on how long to spend at the Marble Mountains.
• Full-day programme with Hoi An Ancient Town (about 7 to 8 hours): In the morning, attend the Quan The Am Festival and visit the Non Nuoc stone-carving village. At lunchtime, eat vegetarian food or the local speciality Mi Quang noodles. In the afternoon, the car takes the group back to Hoi An Ancient Town for a relaxed cup of tea, a stroll through the lantern-lit streets and floating prayer lanterns on the Hoai River when night falls.