The fifth day of the fifth lunar month marks the summer solstice, or midsummer. Unlike the Western midsummer, Vietnamese regard this as an unhealthy time of year. Toward off sickness and bad luck, they burn paper effigies as offerings to the god of death. They also buy amulets from the temple for protection against evil spirits. The people of Nha Trang bathe in the sea on this day in the belief that this will kill the worms in the body.