During the night, family members gathered in front of the communal pagoda or their houses, preparing a special feast with green rice flakes, ripe bananas, fresh peeled coconuts and mangoes to offer to the moon.

The offering ceremony begins with all family members sitting flat on the ground and clasping their hands in wait for the moon to rise. An elderly man expresses their gratitude to the moon and prays for continued good crops and good health.

After the ceremony, they continue looking at the moon, while receiving green rice flakes from an elderly man and making their wishes.

They then launched paper lanterns into the sky and banana-tree rafts into a river. The rafts are decorated with colourful lights and loaded with offerings.

On the following morning, a boat race is held. Each boat is a pirogue made from a trunk of good timber, in a lozenge shape. It has a curved head and tail and is managed by skillful boatmen in a competition. Hundreds of people enthusiastically support their favourite teams and enjoy the race.

This year’s Ok Om Bok festival was held in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang for all people – ethnic Khmers, Chinese-Vietnamese and Vietnamese. They prayed to the Moon for bumper harvests all the year round, prosperity and happiness. A jubilant atmosphere prevailed over the celebration sites where large members of people gathered to enjoy folk art performances, including floating flames, flying balloons, and Khmer stage arts of Du Ke and Ro Bam.

People also flocked to downtown Soc Trang for shopping at trade fairs and watching traditional sports and games.

Ok Om Bok is now a popular festival celebrated not only in Soc Trang but also in other Mekong Delta provinces of Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Kien Giang and An Giang.