The special rotating palanquin ceremony has just been held by Hanoi residents to bring back water from the Red River.

The ceremony is one of the most ancient traditions of the people of Tho Khoi Village, currently known as Cu Khoi Ward, Long Bien District. The festival is held during February 8-10 in lunar calendar.

There are two main palanquins, one called Song Loan, for the goddess, and another called Long Dinh for the god. The porters carry these palanquins for 2 km from the village to the Red River, where they take water before returning to the village.

While walking, the porters must rotate the palanquins in every direction possible. Sometimes, it takes up to three hours to make the walk to the river because of the unpredictable routes.

According to Dao Dinh Toan, who has played drum for the ceremony for 20 years, the Song Loan palanquin is carried by single women and Long Dinh is carried by single men. The ceremony can take its toll on the young girls, but they are always proud about their assignments.

Aside from the two palanquins for the god and goddess, there are also five other palanquins for high-ranking mandarins carried by men in the village.

Six tutelaries are worshiped at the village's temple

The ceremony starts at the village temple

Carrying palanquins to the Red River

Long Dinh palanquin carried by single men

Song Loan palanquin carried by single women

Turning the palanquins

Porters rotate the palanquins at the village's temple

People believe that god and goddess will appear when the palanquins are rotated

Porters must not let the palanquins touch the ground

Worshiping on a ship

Taking water from Red River