These days, many people from all over flock to Rach Gia ward (An Giang) to attend the traditional festival commemorating the 157th anniversary of the sacrifice of National Hero Nguyen Trung Truc. The festival takes place over 3 days, from October 17 to 19 (February 26 to 28 of the lunar calendar). In addition to the traditional ceremony, people and tourists also participate in many activities of the festival.
Throughout the festival, the Organizing Committee has fully prepared and arranged food sources to provide free treatment for everyone. The rice fields operate at full capacity from early morning until late at night to best serve the people attending the festival. In addition, the medical care team is also deployed on duty at the communal house premises to promptly support and take care of everyone's health.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Hang - Manager and operator of drug distribution organization and drug funding mobilization shared: In addition to common medicine, there are also supplements and drugs to increase resistance. The Rach Gia volunteer medicine station was established on October 16 to provide free medicine to serve people going to the clinic and will end on the evening of October 19. Due to hot weather and erratic rain, people often suffer from diseases such as cough, cold, runny nose, headache, driving, fatigue, etc.
"Although more than 130,000 doses had been prepared, after 2 days of giving the medicine, it was out of stock. Currently, we are still mobilizing more drugs and buying additional supplements of some necessary types to immediately provide to the people," Ms. Hang informed.
There are 30 volunteers participating in drug distribution activities at the camp, all of whom have practice certificates. Everyone worked very enthusiastically to make sure that everyone attending the festival had delicious food and good health, Ms. Hang added.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bong, a resident of Dong Thap province, said: "I am old so I have to travel a long distance to get to the festival and feel a little tired and feel a good feeling, so I came here to see a doctor and ask for medicine. Everyone gave me careful instructions, divided the medicine to give me to drink, so I could recover quickly and continue to attend Mr. Nguyen's death anniversary".
Ms. Tran Ngoc Thu, a resident of Can Tho province, said: My family has been attending Mr. Nguyens death anniversary for 2 days. The daughter had a fever so she went to see a doctor and took medicine to drink, which helped her feel much better. When he was away from Christmas, he was given free meals and health care, which was thoughtful and dedicated, making us feel truly moved. Everyone happily welcomed and cared for me like this from afar until I felt unfamiliar but felt extremely secure".
"From food to medicine, everything is free, I have never seen such a festival. Wherever I go, I get to eat, drink water, eat and be thanked. The thoughtful attention and hospitality surprised us because we didn't think strangers or tourists would come but were welcomed warmly like family members," said Mr. Pham Thanh An, a tourist from Dong Thap province.
Westerners are always familiar with calling the festival by a familiar and affectionate name, the death anniversary of Uncle Nguyen and Mr. Nguyen. The historical and cultural relic of the Tomb and Communal House of National Hero Nguyen Trung Truc in Rach Gia City (now Rach Gia Ward) also attracts a large number of visitors to worship, the peak of which is the 3 main days of the annual Nguyen Trung Truc Festival.
