Within the rich system of beliefs and customs in Cổ Loa – the land associated with the ancient state of Âu Lạc under King An Dương Vương and the famous legend of the love between Mỵ Châu and Trọng Thủy – the 13th day of the eighth lunar month marks a special ritual known to local residents as the “Ăn sêu Day of Lady Mỵ Châu.” This day commemorates the betrothal of Princess Mỵ Châu, preserved through generations as a symbol both sacred and deeply human.

Fried vermicelli in the “ăn sêu” offering

The ăn sêu ritual is held at the Shrine of Lady Mỵ Châu within the Cổ Loa Relic Site. On this day, villagers and visitors from afar gather to offer incense and lay out offerings in remembrance of Mỵ Châu – daughter of King An Dương Vương, a figure closely associated with touching legends of love and loyalty. With sincere devotion, the community believes that Lady Mỵ Châu will bless families with prosperity, harmony, filial descendants, and abundant harvests.

A distinctive feature of the ăn sêu tradition is the custom of eating rice vermicelli (bún). For the people of Cổ Loa, vermicelli symbolizes purity, softness, and refinement – qualities associated with Princess Mỵ Châu. For generations, on the 13th day of the eighth lunar month, families across the villages of Cổ Loa prepare a tray of offerings, in which dishes made with bún are indispensable: stir-fried vermicelli with celery, grilled pork vermicelli, or crab vermicelli soup. Families gather to share the meal – not only as a culinary tradition, but as a moment of community bonding, neighborly affection, remembrance of origins, and pride in their homeland’s heritage.

The ăn sêu Day of Lady Mỵ Châu reflects both spiritual significance and the harmony between folk belief and everyday customs. Through it, the people of Cổ Loa express their hopes for peace, family happiness, and local prosperity. It is also an opportunity to educate younger generations about ancient legends and the profound humanistic values embedded in this once-capital land of Âu Lạc.

Preserving and continuing this tradition enriches the cultural identity of Cổ Loa – a “sacred land of a thousand years” in the national consciousness. Every year on the 13th day of the eighth lunar month, the echoing drums, the rising incense at the Shrine of Lady Mỵ Châu, and the humble bowls of bún remind locals of their historical roots and of the steadfast heart of Princess Mỵ Châu – a figure both legendary and real, whose memory endures in the nation's history.

The people of Cổ Loa continue to cherish and pass on this unique cultural tradition, ensuring that the ăn sêu Day of Lady Mỵ Châu remains a bridge between past and present, enriching the spiritual life of the community and contributing to the preservation of national cultural heritage:

“As close as vermicelli with celery,
A dish for mother through all the years.
Thirteenth of August, mid-autumn breeze –
No matter how far, the day stays near.”