It was definitely one of the better decisions that I made in my life to invite Binh Ta as an insider guide and artist-at-any-moment for this part of the research phase.
The wonderful experience of being welcomed and living in the very house he grew up in Hang Bac street. One of the most intimate aspect of his home was the altar on the the top floor which was the altar to his parents who have passed on.
Binh had put in much organisation for me to witness the len dong events which he felt were the closest thing to possession or trance rituals. I was hooked... The first one occurred in a humble temple where the len dong ritual-performer had been practicing for forty years. It was a sight to behold with around fifteen or more colourful costumes and ritual objects that symbolised the particular deity that was being incarnated. Sometimes the rituals last a whole day and night with twenty or so incarnation and dance rituals. This first one only went on for seven hours...
Loved my temporary living in Hanoi...
"... a quandary perhaps, that UNESCO has brought the Len Dong rituals back but the possession aspect of these rituals appear to have been curtailed..."