The opening ceremony of the Festival and recognition of the National Special Monument Ranking for the Da Hoa - Da Trach Historical Site

On the morning of March 28, at Da Hoa Temple (Me So commune), the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front solemnly organized the opening ceremony of the Festival and the recognition of the National Special Monument Ranking for the Da Hoa - Da Trach Historical Site.

Central and provincial leaders and delegates attend the incense-offering ceremony to commemorate Saint Chu Dong Tu and his two wives at Da Hoa Temple (Me So).

On behalf of the Central and local delegates, the opening ceremony drew the attendance of members of the Party Central Committee: Nguyen Hai Ninh, Minister of Justice; Hoang Minh Son, Acting Minister of Education and Training; and Duong Quoc Huy, Secretary of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee.

On behalf of Hung Yen province’s delegates, the opening ceremony saw the participation of comrades: Nguyen Huu Nghia, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Pham Quang Ngoc, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; members of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee, leaders of the Provincial People's Council and the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; leaders of departments, agencies, localities and a large number of people and tourists from all over the country.

Comrade Nguyen Hai Ninh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Justice, offers incense in remembrance of Saint Chu Dong Tu and his two wives at Da Hoa Temple (Me So).

Comrade Nguyen Huu Nghia, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, offers incense in remembrance of Saint Chu Dong Tu and his two wives at Da Hoa Temple (Me So).

Comrade Pham Quang Ngoc, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, offers incense in remembrance of Saint Chu Dong Tu and his two wives at Da Hoa Temple (Me So).

Before the opening ceremony, the leaders and delegates respectfully offered incense to commemorate Saint Chu Dong Tu and his two wives – Princess Tien Dung and Princess Tay Sa. This ceremony not only expresses gratitude to their ancestors but also continues the enduring tradition of folk beliefs that has flowed for thousands of years in this region.

Central and provincial leaders and delegates offer incense to commemorate Saint Chu Dong Tu and his two wives at Da Hoa Temple (Me So).

Leaders from ministries, departments, and localities present flowers to congratulate the festival organizing board.

In the Vietnamese consciousness, Chu Dong Tu is not only a legendary figure but also a special cultural symbol: a man of humble origins but rich in filial piety, overcoming prejudice to achieve love and happiness; together with Tien Dung, he reclaimed the alluvial plains along the river, developed livelihoods, taught people how to work, and built a prosperous life. Over time, that legend has crystallized into a profound system of humanistic values, reflecting the aspirations for self-reliance, the pioneering spirit, and the will to conquer nature of the inhabitants of the Red River Delta.

Central and provincial leaders and delegates attend the opening ceremony of the Da Hoa - Da Trach Temple Festival.

The Da Hoa - Da Trach Temple Festival, also known as the Chu Dong Tu - Tien Dung Festival, is not simply a religious activity but a living cultural space where the past and present meet. The rituals such as carrying water from the Red River - a symbol of life, or solemn processions of palanquins through villages..., which bear the strong imprint of agricultural beliefs, conveying the hope for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest.

Comrade Pham Van Nghiem, the Provincial Party Committee’s Member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and Head of the Organizing Committee for provincial-level festivals, delivers the opening speech.

In his opening remarks, Comrade Pham Van Nghiem, the Provincial Party Committee’s Member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and Head of the Organizing Committee for provincial-level festivals, emphasized: The Da Hoa - Da Trach historical site is a typical complex of relics, converging unique values of history, culture, and architectural art, vividly reflecting the formation and development of the Red River Delta region. The site is not only associated with the legend of Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung but also commemorates Trieu Viet Vuong and is linked to the famous Da Trach base in the history of resistance against foreign invaders.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed that the classification of the historical site as a Special National Monument according to Decision No. 1473 dated November 26, 2024, of the Prime Minister, and the recognition of the three wooden altars from the Mac Dynasty at Da Hoa Temple as National Treasures according to Decision No. 236 dated February 3, 2026, are well-deserved recognitions of the special and unique values of the heritage. This also serves as an important foundation for continuing to preserve and promote the value of historical relics associated with the development of cultural tourism, contributing to the promotion of local socio-economic development.

Delegates, local people, and visitors from all over attend the opening ceremony.

Beyond the meaning of honoring heritage, the festival is also an opportunity for folk cultural values to be "awakened" and spread strongly. The simple yet heartfelt melodies of the Da Trach Trong Quan singing songs, the love songs of Quan Ho folk singing, or the lively and expressive "con đĩ đánh bồng" dancing... have created a festival space that is both sacred and vibrant, reflecting the rich spiritual life of the people in the riverine region.

Notably, 2026 marks the first time the festival is held at the provincial level, signifying a shift from a traditional community-based festival to a broader one, with interconnected scale, contributing to the connection of the region's unique cultural and historical values.

Comrade Pham Quang Ngoc, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, presents the Certificate of Ranking as a Special National Monument for the Da Hoa - Da Trach Historical Site to the two communes of Me So and Trieu Viet Vuong.

At the ceremony, Comrade Pham Quang Ngoc, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, presented the Certificate of Ranking as a Special National Monument for the Da Hoa - Da Trach Historical Site to the two communes of Me So and Trieu Viet Vuong.

Following the opening drum ceremony, a spectacular art program themed "Legendary Riverbank" was presented. The unique singing, dancing, and musical performances created a vibrant festival atmosphere, vividly recreating the legend of Chu Dong Tu and Tien Dung and the cultural life of the Red River Delta region.

Comrade Nguyen Huu Nghia, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, beats the drum to officially open the Da Hoa - Da Trach Temple Festival 2026.

The Da Hoa - Da Trach Temple Festival 2026 will be held over three days, from March 28-30 (February 10-12 in the lunar calendar) at Da Hoa Temple (Me So commune) and Da Trach Temple (Trieu Viet Vuong commune).

The ceremonial part includes traditional rituals such as palanquin processions, water processions, and sacrificial ceremonies. The festival includes cultural, sports, and tourism activities, as well as folk games such as lion dance, dragon dance, and traditional boat dance performances; folk art exchanges; blindfolded goat catching, pot smashing, and tug-of-war competitions; human chess and Chinese chess competitions; and boat racing. In particular, the festival is also a gathering place for many traditional art forms such as Trong Quan singing, Quan Ho folk singing, Tru singing, and Chau Van singing, creating a highlight to attract tourists and contributing to bringing heritage to life in contemporary times.

The procession of palanquins from the villages of the former Me Cong commune, now Me So commune, gathers at Da Hoa Temple on the opening day of the festival.