A festival is held in the grounds of Tây Phương Pagoda in early spring of each year, featuring traditional games such as tug-of-war, cock fighting and chess with human chess pieces, plus a variety of puppetry and music performances. The central piece of the festival is the sám hối (compunction) ceremony, held on the 6th of the third moon, which calls on all men to practise compassion and charity, to avoid wrong doing and to aim for serenity and quietude.