Vietnamese ethnic group holds fire dance ritual for good harvest

Vietnam’s ethnic group the Pa Then performed a fire dance ritual on February 6, 2023, believed to purge demons and bring about a good harvest. The ritual consists of young men gliding barefoot on burning coal. The dance was performed in secret for decades after it was banned by Vietnamese communist authorities, dismissing the practice as superstitious. Today, it is considered a part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage.