As Vietnam celebrates a four-day holiday, tourists visit the Muslim community in the southern An Giang Province. For the occasion, visitors can rent traditional outfits and organize a photo shoot at Mohamad's shop, in the heart of Chau Phong village.
The weekend holiday coincides with the end of the holy month of Ramadan. During one month, Muslims worshipers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking from sunrise to sunset.
In Chau Phong, niched between Cambodia and Vietnam, 5,000 people from the Cham community respect the tradition, which is considered one of the most important from the Quran, as it helps spiritual reflection and remember the less fortunate.
The Jamiul Azhar Mosque at the heart of the village. This is the most important mosque in a village that has around 10 of them. The spacious mosque gathers around 200 Muslim worshipers during the month of Ramadan.
A teenager is seen running some errands before the sunset. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the villagers are going around to buy everything they need to break their fast.
A young Vietnamese seen on the streets of Chau Phong. He waits on the motorbike while his father runs some errands before the sunset.
The Imam of the Jamiul Azhar Mosque carefully monitors the time to announce the end of fasting. Worshipers will then closely listen to him during the prayers.
Before entering the mosque, worshipers have to clean their body extremities from the hands to feet, as well as elbows and the face. In the Muslim tradition, worshipers have to present themselves in a clean state before God.
A few hours before breaking the fast, the men prepare a sweet porridge made with coconut milk at the Chau Phong Mosque.
Porridge of all sorts are made by men for the night, from sweet to salty tastes.
Children are seen lighting up candles on the night of doubt. This tradition is particular to the Cham community, where the Quran is mixed with other traditions from Vietnam and Cambodia.
