Opening of the Con Son Spring Festival

Some photos from the Con Son - Kiet Bac Spring Festival 2025.

Comrade Tran Duc Thang, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee, beat the drum to officially open the Con Son - Kiet Bac Spring Festival 2025.

On the morning of February 13th, Hai Duong province solemnly organized the opening ceremony of the Con Son - Kiet Bac Spring Festival 2025, commemorating the 691st anniversary of the passing of the Third Patriarch of Truc Lam, Venerable Huyen Quang (1334 - 2025), celebrating the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Con Son (1965-2025), and launching the Tree Planting Festival at Con Son Pagoda in the Con Son - Kiet Bac special national historical site (Chi Linh).

Delegates and visitors listened as the Venerable Huyền Quang, the Third Patriarch of the Trúc Lâm Zen sect, was proclaimed.

Attending the ceremony were: Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, President of the Vietnam Women's Union; Mr. Tran Duc Thang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee; Ms. Vu Thanh Mai, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; representatives of leaders from ministries, departments, agencies, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Association, and some provinces and cities such as Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang…

Also attending were: Comrade Le Van Hieu, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, and Head of the Hai Duong Provincial Delegation to the National Assembly ; Comrade Le Ngoc Chau, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee; leaders of the Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and Provincial Fatherland Front Committee…

The attendees included: Mr. Bun Sone Phet La Van, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council of Vientiane (Laos); Mr. Kim Hyun Soo, First Deputy Mayor of Suwon City (South Korea); and the UNESCO representative in Vietnam.

The theatrical performance "Con Son bears the footprints of the Great Leader" recreates the image of President Ho Chi Minh visiting Con Son 60 years ago.

Before the opening ceremony, delegates enjoyed a performance of "Con Son bears the footprints of the Great Leader" by actors from the Cheo Theater and the Provincial Center for Culture and Arts.

In his opening speech at the ceremony, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Chau highlighted the value of Con Son - Kiet Bac as a land of "spiritual and talented people," a place where cultural essence converges, closely linked to the heroic and glorious history of the Vietnamese nation. This place has attracted many eminent figures and wise men who lived in seclusion; it was the base of operations for the resistance against the Yuan army by National Hero Tran Quoc Tuan; it was where the Three Patriarchs of Truc Lam, including Venerable Huyen Quang, took refuge; where the Grand Tutor Tran Nguyen Dan opened Thanh Hu Cave; and it was also here that the national hero Nguyen Trai "contemplated the affairs of the people and the fate of the nation," which later led to his great achievements.

Comrade Le Ngoc Chau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province, delivered the opening speech.

The scenery of Con Son, originally a sacred ancestral site, has become even more beautiful and solemn, transforming it into a famous tourist attraction both domestically and internationally. Con Son - Kiet Bac has been classified as a special national historical site; the traditional Con Son - Kiet Bac festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2012.

The delegates proceeded to offer incense at Con Son Pagoda.

Treasures within the historical site, such as the "Thanh Hu Dong" stele, the "Con Son Tu Phuc Tu Bi" stele, and the "Three Buddhas" statue set of Con Son Pagoda, have been recognized as national treasures in 2015, 2017, and 2024.

These tangible and intangible values ​​are vivid evidence that contributes to affirming and authenticating the dossier proposing that the UNESCO World Heritage Site complex of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiet Bac be inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

With its rich history and immense cultural value, Con Son - Kiet Bac has become an ideal destination for domestic and international tourists; a place that preserves and honors the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation; a place for preserving and practicing religious rituals. At the same time, the site also strongly promotes cultural tourism potential, making an important contribution to the socio-economic development of Hai Duong province.

Delegates visit the thematic exhibition "Hai Duong: The Footsteps of the Great Leader" in the courtyard of Con Son Pagoda.

Going back 60 years in history, on February 15, 1965, Hai Duong province had the honor of welcoming President Ho Chi Minh. This was his fifth visit to Hai Duong, leaving behind deep affection and a lasting impression on the people of Hai Duong.

During this visit, Uncle Ho visited Con Son Pagoda. The image of Uncle Ho reading the inscription at Con Son Pagoda has become a sacred memory in the hearts of the people, a beautiful symbol of the spirit of cherishing the cultural values ​​and fine traditions of the nation.

Afterward, Uncle Ho and his delegation continued their journey up Con Son Mountain to visit the scenic Thanh Hu Cave and stopped at Thach Ban - where Nguyen Trai often sat reading, writing poetry, and contemplating the fate of the nation and the people. There, Uncle Ho affectionately instructed: "Cadres and the people must protect historical relics well and plant many trees so that Con Son becomes a beautiful forest."

Hai Duong's glorious history has left it with invaluable cultural heritage. Proud of its rich cultural, revolutionary, and heroic traditions, Hai Duong province enters a new phase of development with strong belief, enthusiasm, and aspirations for progress. With the spirit of unity, determination, and boldness of all levels and sectors, and the solidarity of the entire population and business community, Hai Duong will successfully complete its socio-economic development and national defense and security tasks in 2025, contributing to making the province increasingly prosperous, beautiful, and civilized.

Delegates offered incense to commemorate the 691st anniversary of the passing of the Third Patriarch of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, Venerable Huyen Quang.

Following the speech by Comrade Le Ngoc Chau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province, Comrade Tran Duc Thang, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee, beat the drum to officially open the Con Son - Kiet Bac Spring Festival 2025.

Numerous delegates and citizens participated in the opening ceremony of the spring festival and offered incense to commemorate the 691st anniversary of the passing of the Third Patriarch of the Truc Lam Zen sect, Venerable Huyen Quang.

Following the opening drumbeat, delegates, local people, and visitors from all over respectfully offered incense to commemorate the 691st anniversary of the passing of the Third Patriarch of the Truc Lam Zen sect, Venerable Huyen Quang.

Earlier that morning, as part of the Con Son - Kiet Bac Spring Festival, a water procession ceremony took place.

Amidst the flowing music and the resounding drums and gongs, a procession of thousands of people, including dragon dancers, flag bearers, parasols, ceremonial objects, spear bearers, palanquins carrying the three founders of Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, vegetarian and non-vegetarian offerings, water vessels, incense, and flowers, moved from Con Son Pagoda towards Con Son Lake to perform the water procession ritual.

Comrade Nguyen Minh Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province, took water from the "life-giving circle" (a circle made of flowers placed in clear water) and poured it into a thermos flask.

The thermos flask was carried to Con Son Pagoda in a sacred atmosphere.

Following the festival opening ceremony was the opening ceremony of the 2025 Culture, Tourism and Trade Promotion Week, featuring many special activities.

Later that afternoon, the traditional wrestling competition took place in the stone field in front of Con Son Pagoda.

Hai Duong Newspaper continuously updates information about the Con Son - Kiet Bac festival on baohaiduong.vn and on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok at addresses bearing the name Hai Duong Newspaper.

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Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/khai-hoi-mua-xuan-con-son-kiep-bac-nam-2025-405140.html