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Sep 14, 2017 / 08:10

Foreign visitors impressive with culture festivals in Hanoi

Unlike the serene Mekong delta in the south, Vietnam’s northern capital buzzes with energy, and there are art exhibitions, traditional festivals and music events taking place in the city’s numerous museums and cultural centers. Visit Hanoi to explore many cultural festivals.

Giong Festival
Giong Festival.
Giong Festival.
The Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc temples which has officially been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by the UNESCO since November 2010,
This festival is held annually from the seventh to the ninth days of the fourth lunar month in order to commemorate the mythical hero Saint Giong at Phu Dong temple in Gia Lam District (his birth place) and from the sixth to the eighth days of the first lunar month at Soc Temple in Soc Son District (his ascending place to heaven).
During the festival, there are other traditional games such as Chinese chess, human chess, cock fighting... and art performances of villagers as traditional opera (Cheo), love duet (Quan ho).
The Giong Festival with special national cultural characteristics and high community features is attracting a large number of domestic and international visitors come to visit and study.
Dong Da Festival
Dong Da Festival.
Dong Da Festival.
Dong Da festival takes place on the January 5th of Lunar New Year. This is a victory festival, held in memory of the glorious achievements of Quang Trung King – the hero in history against invaders of the nation.
Two centuries ago, Dong Da was a battlefield where Quang Trung (Nguyen Hue), a Tay Son farmer who later became a National Hero defeated more than 200,000 soldiers of the Qing invaders. Dong Da Hill became a glorious historical site of the Vietnamese nation.
Ever since, on the 5th of the first lunar month, Hanoi people hold a festival to celebrate this historic victory.
Vong La Festival
Vong La Festival.
Vong La Festival.
Vong La festival is annually organized from 13 January to 15th January (lunar calendar) in Dai Do communal house, Vong La commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi Vietnam. The festival honor Ngu Vi Ton Than.
On 13 January: In the morning, the priest wears traditional costumes and prepare to worship and Village House opening ceremony. In the afternoon, a team of priest starts the incense ceremony.
On 14th January: palanquin procession held in the early morning. Leading of procession line is a team of lion dance, followed by the 8- sound guild, a team of the flag, a team of carrying the palanquin, the male priest team, female priest team and the villagers. The palanquin bearers are those who are healthy and young men with good moral and single status.
Palanquin procession goes from the Village House to La Vong commune around and then go back the village house.
On 15th January: on the morning, a team of female priest wears traditional costumes for Saint incense ceremony. On the afternoon, a team of male priest organize ending ceremony and deliver Saint’s blessing.
During the festival, there are other traditional games such as Lion dance, Quan Ho singing (Love duet), Cheo singing (traditional opera), Chinese chess, cock fighting, soccer, volleyball, etc.
Co Loa Festival
Co Loa Festival.
Co Loa Festival.
Co Loa Citadel Festival is held from 6th to 16th day of the first lunar month in the year, just after Lunar New Year Festival. The festival takes place at Upper Temple ("Den Thuong"), Dong Anh District, Hanoi, which is the place to worship King An Duong Vuong - the King of Au Lac (the former name of Vietnam in 1st century BC).
The main festival day is the 6th day and begins with a solemn procession of 12 villages in the area. By the time that procession reached Upper Temple, the elderly practice an incense-offering liturgy on the yard right in front of the temple. It’s time to honor the contribution of King An Duong Vuong to the cause of national construction and defense. All citizens of 12 villages, as well as tourists from all regions in the country, burn incense to remember King An Duong Vuong and pray for prosperity and peace.
After the part of the liturgy, the festival continues with various traditional games and activities. Both local residents and tourists are attracted by the interesting and bustling ambiance of “Danh Du” (bamboo swings), “nem con” (game of throwing a sacred ball through the ring), rice cooking competition, “Ca Tru” singing, “Quan Ho” singing, “Cheo” performance. Especially, wrestling and crossbow shooting are the most attractive activities of Co Loa Citadel Festival. These competitions offer great chance for young men in the area to show their powers as well as traditional chivalry of Vietnamese people.
Dai Lo Temple Festival
Dai Lo Temple Festival.
Dai Lo Temple Festival.
Dai Lo Temple or commonly known as Lo temple belongs Thuong Tin District, Ha Noi. It has been a famous temple for a long time among the people. The temple was built in Tran dynasty, about more than 700 years ago. Located outside the dike, near the Red River, but gods who are worshiped in the temple are not derived from the northern delta of farmers cultivating wet rice, but from spirits of the Four Palaces originated from the distant North. They are Mau Thuong Thien (goddess of the upper sky), Mau Thuong Ngan (goddess of the highlands), Mau Thoai (Mother Water), and Mau Dia (Mother of Earth Palace). This is an ancient traditional belief of the people in Vietnam.
Not only famous for the thrilling legends, the particular that makes people remember and cannot forget is culture, religion, and festival held annually in each spring. Visitors can feel like living in the ancient time with the traditional religion of a country lasting for hundreds of years. Join this tour, you can get a deep understanding of the culture and lifestyle created by a civilization which makes your excursion in Hanoi meaningful and unforgettable.
Le Mat Festival
Le Mat Festival.
Le Mat Festival.
Over the years, Le Mat Village in Viet Hung Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi has been famous nationwide for not only snake catching and breeding, but also its distinctive festival.
The festival is annually held on March 20 to 24 of the lunar calendar to worship the village’s tutelary god of the Hoang Family.
Le Mat Village Festival consists of many unique rites and folk activities, such as the water offering ceremony, the snake killing dance – one of the ten ancient dances in the imperial capital of Thang Long and the rite of catching carp in the village well.
With many ancient cultural features, Le Mat Village Festival is one of the unique festivals in the country, attracting a large number of tourists.