Nem Thuong Pig-Chopping Festival 2025 in Vietnam

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Festival Tradition

Once a year, on the sixth day of the first lunar month, it is important for the village of Nem Thuong, located in Bac Ninh Province, some 24.9 miles (40 km) from Hanoi, to organize a festival in the belief that it will bring good fortune and prosperity to the area.

The procedure of the festival is not for faint-hearted and draws in a lot of protest and criticism. The villagers gather yearly to chop the pig in quite a brutal way by cutting it in two pieces with a machete. Next, it is customary for the villagers to rush to the pig and soak the banknotes into the pig's blood, which is believed to bring good luck in the new year. Moreover, some people also take some of the blood to their fields to ensure good harvests as well.

This act is performed in honour of General Ly Doan Thuong, who used a wild boar for sustenance during a historic battle. The ritual slaughter of pigs became a symbolic part of this commemoration.

Animal-Protecting Movement

The festival has been a source of international controversy in recent years due to concerns over animal cruelty. In response to public outcry and campaigns by animal rights groups, the festival has undergone significant changes. Since 2016, the public slaughtering of pigs in the temple yard has been prohibited, and any such ceremonies are now conducted privately to reduce public visibility and controversy​.