Technology enhances sacred traditions at Co Loa Festival 2026

THE HANOI TIMES — Digital space has enriched centuries-old rituals as the Co Loa Spring Festival 2026 opened today [the 6th day of the first lunar month] at the Co Loa Special National Relic Site in Dong Anh Commune, Hanoi.

This year’s festival becomes special as it blends solemn ceremonial traditions with new technological experiences at the start of the festival season.

Nguyen Trong Dong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, and Duong Duc Tuan, Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, attended the event along with the city and local leaders and large crowds of residents and visitors.

According to Hanoimoi Newspaper, before the opening ceremony, leaders and delegates offered incense at the temple dedicated to King An Duong Vuong, who ruled the kingdom of Au Lac (current-day Vietnam) from 257 to 207 BC.

The gesture pays tribute to the ruler credited with founding the nation and building the Co Loa Citadel, reaffirming a tradition of gratitude to ancestors even as digital applications were introduced to bring the heritage site closer to the public.

More than 2,300 years ago, after defeating Qin invaders, Thuc Phan An Duong Vuong unified the Au Viet and Lac Viet tribes and established the capital at Co Loa, a large-scale military and political citadel with a distinctive structure that marked a major step in the formation of the first Vietnamese state.

Despite centuries of change, Co Loa remains a symbol of independence and resilience and a source of pride for residents of Dong Anh and the capital.

In his opening remarks for the festival, Nguyen Van Thieng, Chairman of the Dong Anh Commune People’s Committee, said the Co Loa Festival is a distinctive form of folk cultural practice preserved through generations, featuring traditional palanquin processions, ritual ceremonies of the eight communes of Loa Thanh and a range of folk activities.

The event commemorates the nation-building and safeguarding contributions of the forebears while strengthening unity and preserving traditional cultural values.

This year’s festival recreates the sacred and heroic spirit of the historic land, with processions in traditional costumes, drum performances and colorful flags accompanying activities, such as Loa Thanh crossbow competitions, traditional wrestling, human chess, swing games, men’s volleyball, quan ho folk singing, water puppetry and classical opera.

It creates a festive scene that is both solemn and vibrant.

The Year of the Horse Spring Festival 2026 is also the launch of a digital traditional festival space. Accordingly, technology has been integrated into the organization and promotion of the site through QR codes, digital archives, multi-platform communication and enhanced online interaction with residents and visitors.

Within the festival grounds, a Digital Heritage and Traditional Festival Space features three experience zones, including 3D 360-degree virtual reality, 3D hologram presentations and a VR booth at Ngoc Well.

Visitors can wear VR headsets to explore the entire complex from a 360-degree perspective, discover stories about the citadel’s construction, the legendary magic crossbow and 3D digitized artifacts and scan QR codes to access historical and architectural information as well as documentary films about the festival.

The application of technology does not diminish the sacred nature of the rituals but instead helps bring heritage closer to younger generations. Many parents brought their children to experience the digital space and learn about the legend of My Chau and Trong Thuy and the story of An Duong Vuong building the citadel, fostering historical awareness and a sense of responsibility for preservation.

According to local leaders, digitalizing the festival is a concrete step in advancing comprehensive digital transformation, with heritage preservation and promotion at the core of smart cultural and tourism development.

The commune is building e-government and improving administrative efficiency while working to turn the Co Loa Special National Relic Site into an attractive destination contributing to the capital’s cultural industries.

In 2025, Dong Anh Commune began implementing a two-tier local government model, streamlining its administrative apparatus and accelerating reforms and digital transformation. The proportion of online public service applications has increased, contributing to greater transparency and more effective governance.

Socio-economic development has remained stable, with growth reaching 9.7%. Meanwhile, budget revenue totaled VND2.8 trillion (US$108 million), while 681 projects were launched with total registered capital exceeding VND4.2 trillion ($162 million).

Investment has also been allocated to the restoration and upgrading of key structures at the Co Loa relic site, supporting heritage preservation alongside improvements to urban infrastructure.

Before the spirit of King An Duong Vuong, Dong Anh pledged to uphold unity and continue building a prosperous, civilized and modern homeland worthy of its historic legacy.

The Co Loa Spring Festival 2026 is not only an early spring cultural event but also a marker of connection between past and present, where digital innovation and traditional rites come together to promote heritage values and signal a new phase of development for the Co Loa area.