Those living in Vietnam worship three goddesses: the Mother Goddesses of Heaven, Water, Mountain, and Forest in order to fulfil their spiritual needs, and day-to-day wishes, and achieve good health and success.
One of the Mother Goddesses is Lieu Hanh (a nymph who lived as a human and became a Buddhist nun), among the four immortals of the Viet, she is referred to as the Mother of the World as well as other spirits considered legendary. Women from Van Cat village in Nam Dinh Province created Lieu Hanh as a personality cult. The cult seems to have been created by rice farmers who needed water and land. It was at its height extremely popular.
Under the Communist Party of Vietnam's early leadership, the cult was mostly suppressed, as it was viewed as Taoist in nature and an instrument of oppression. Traditional rituals, practices, and celebrations such as Phu Day, take place in temples dedicated to Mother Goddesses.
Daily worship at temples is supervised by temple guardians. Main practices include spirit possession rituals and traditional festivals, the most notable of which is the Phu Day festival held in Kim Thái commune, Nam Dinh province.
Some of the activities associated with the practice are maintaining part of the community's history, culture and identity by wearing traditional costumes and dancing. A bearer and practitioner can be an individual from the public, a temple guardian, a ritual priest, a spirit medium, an assistant, or a musician who will pass knowledge orally to newcomers and family members.
During the festival, which lasts between the third and tenth day of the third lunar month, rituals, folk performances, a procession of Buddhist scripture, and word arrangement are all performed. The Viet express themselves through folk cultural expressions in festivals and show their views on history, cultural heritage, and gender roles.
Practices of sharing values and belief in the compassion and grace of the Mother Goddesses provide a basis for social relationships and also support the appreciation of women's roles in society. Belief in the Mother Goddesses is a basis for worshipping them and connecting members of participating communities.
As early as the 16th century, those devoted to the Goddess made an impact on social life and consciousness. Today, beliefs about the Goddess are both spiritual and cultural. Ultimately, the Beliefs exist to meet both the spiritual needs and everyday desires of the people, as well as to help them achieve good fortune in health, work, and business.