Buzz
The capital serves as the cultural hub of the country, showcasing traditional Vietnamese festivals that capture the essence of the nation's beauty. These festivals are a major draw for both local and international tourists visiting Hanoi.
Cổ Loa Temple Festival
The Cổ Loa Temple Festival has ancient origins, dedicated to the great king An Dương Vương Thục Phán, who contributed immensely to the nation. It exemplifies the Vietnamese spirit of 'Remembering those who paved the way for us.' The festival spans 10 days, from the 6th to the 16th of the first lunar month every year. It is divided into two segments: the ritual and the celebration. Tourists in Hanoi can enjoy various fascinating activities during this time.
Ritual Segment: This is conducted solemnly, featuring a procession with 12 palanquins, which are carried around the Trọng Thủy Well and stop at the village gate. Alongside this, there are numerous traditional activities and rituals, culminating in the farewell ceremony on the last day of the festival.
Celebration Segment: This includes folk games such as tug-of-war, wrestling, rice-cooking competitions, swing games, performances of ca trù singing, and a fireworks display, offering both fun and cultural insights for all participants.
Location: Cổ Loa village, Đông Anh district, Hanoi.
Event duration: from the 6th to the 16th of the Lunar New Year.
The Perfume Pagoda Festival
The Perfume Pagoda Festival is one of the largest festivals in Hanoi and the entire country. It attracts a large number of visitors from all regions during the early days of the Lunar New Year. The festival is held at the scenic area of the Perfume Pagoda (also known as Hương Sơn), located in Hương Sơn, Mỹ Đức district, Hanoi. Participants in this festival hope to pray to the Buddha for peace and good fortune. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a boat ride along the picturesque Yến River, explore the Hương Tích Cave, climb mountains, and listen to traditional folk songs.
Address: Hương Sơn commune, Mỹ Đức district, Hanoi.
Event duration: from the 6th of the Lunar New Year, lasting until the late days of the 3rd month of the Lunar calendar.
Bát Tràng Craft Village Festival
The Bát Tràng Craft Village Festival honors the ancient pottery-making tradition passed down through generations. Additionally, it serves as a time for people to gather and pray for peace and good fortune in the upcoming year. The festival takes place at the Bát Tràng communal house from the 14th to the 16th of the Lunar New Year. It features various meaningful activities such as water procession, ritual bath for the deity's tablet, and finally, the procession of the tablet to the communal house. Visitors to the event, especially those traveling to Hanoi, can also enjoy human chess and traditional singing performances.
Location: Bát Tràng communal house, Bát Tràng village, Gia Lâm, Hanoi.
Duration: From the 14th to the 16th of the Lunar New Year each year.
Võng La Festival
Location: Đại Độ communal house, Đại Độ village, Võng La commune, Đông Anh district, Hanoi.
The festival takes place from the 13th to the 15th of the Lunar New Year.
Festival of Thay Temple
The Thay Temple Festival is a sacred ritual in Vietnamese culture, featuring significant ceremonies like: Moc Duc (the statue bathing), the positioning ceremony, offerings, and processions. Additionally, visitors can enjoy traditional folk games such as water puppet performances at the Thuy Dinh, and blindfolded pot smashing. When visiting Thay Temple, you can also explore the scenic mountains and breathe in the fresh, pure air.
Location: Sai Son Commune, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi.
The event occurs from the 5th to the 7th day of the 3rd Lunar Month.
Festival of Giong Temple in Soc Son
This festival is linked to the legend of the national hero, Saint Giong, and serves as an occasion to honor the Vietnamese victory over the An invaders. The Giong Festival is celebrated during the Lunar New Year, specifically from the 6th to the 8th day of the first month each year. It includes many solemn rituals rich in folk culture, such as the procession of elephants, clearing the ground, and offering flowers at the Upper Temple. A range of intricate preparations for offerings is also part of the festival, including crafting elephants, the elephant procession, offering elephant grass, and carrying bamboo flower garlands. After many years, the Giong Temple Festival continues to preserve its cultural and spiritual significance.
Location: Phu Linh Commune, Soc Son District, Hanoi.
The festival is held from the 6th to the 8th of the first Lunar month.
Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival – Me Linh
The Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival, often referred to locally as the Ha Loi Festival, takes place at the National Historical Site of Hai Ba Trung Temple in Me Linh District. The festival is held to commemorate the contributions of the two female heroes. Me Linh holds a special significance as it is the region where they spent their childhood. The festival runs from the 6th to the 10th of the first month of the Lunar New Year, marking the day Hai Ba Trung raised their flag to start the uprising.
The festival begins with a procession from the Ha Loi Communal House to Hai Ba Trung Temple, accompanied by traditional local rituals. As the procession leaves the temple yard, the sedan carrying Trac Ba Trung leads the way, but once outside the temple gates, it stops on the right side of the road to allow the sedan carrying Nhii Ba Trung to go ahead. This unique procession, combined with a vibrant and respectful atmosphere, attracts tens of thousands of people.
Location: Ha Loi Village, Me Linh Commune, Me Linh District, Hanoi.
The festival takes place on the 6th day of the first Lunar month.
Lệ Mật Village Festival
The festival is an opportunity for the people of Lệ Mật to honor the village's guardian deity, Hoang Duc Trung. He was instrumental in guiding the poor from Lệ Mật village to the capital for land reclamation, establishing 13 camps in the western part of Thang Long (now Ba Dinh District). The Lệ Mật festival consists of two main parts: the ceremonial rituals and the festivities. The rituals include a water procession around the village well, the offering of carp to the communal house, and the transport of offerings from the 13 camps in Ba Dinh back to the village temple. A highlight of the festival is the artistic snake dance, where the snakes, made from bamboo and fabric, symbolize the defeated water monsters, showcasing the will and strength of the Hoang family. Additionally, the festival attracts many visitors with a cooking competition featuring dishes made from fish, frogs, and snakes.
Location: Lệ Mật Village, Viet Hung Commune, Gia Lam District, Hanoi.
The festival is held on the 23rd day of the 3rd Lunar month.
Source: Mytour.vn
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour.vn
Mytour.vnMay 31, 2024
