Opening of the Nguyen Temple Festival and receiving the title of National Intangible Cultural Heritage

Delegates offer incense at Saint Nguyen Temple

Attending the opening ceremony, the Central Committee delegates included: Nguyen Thi Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly; Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairwoman - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Lieutenant General Le Quang Dao, Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard; representatives of a number of ministries and branches...

Delegates from Ninh Binh province attending the opening ceremony of the Festival included: Tong Quang Thin, member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Bui Hoang Ha, member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; leaders of departments, branches, sectors, and mass organizations of the province; representatives of district, city Party Committees, and enterprises in the province.

Delegates attending the opening ceremony

Also attending were leaders of the District Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, departments, branches, and organizations of Gia Vien district; Tien Thang commune, along with many local people and tourists from all over the country...

At the ceremony, the Organizing Committee of the 2025 Nguyen Temple Festival announced Decision No. 3986/QD-BVHTTDL dated December 10, 2024 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on recognizing the Nguyen Temple Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

On behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, comrade Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the Certificate of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nguyen Temple Festival to the representative of Tien Thang commune.

Comrade Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the Certificate of National Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nguyen Temple Festival to the representative of Tien Thang commune.

Comrades: Nguyen Thi Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly; Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairwoman - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Tong Quang Thin, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee presented flowers to congratulate Tien Thang commune.

Opening the Festival, Comrade Pham Van Tam, Chairman of the District People's Committee, Head of the Organizing Committee of the 2025 Saint Nguyen Temple Festival, stated: Saint Nguyen Temple in Dam Xa has long been famous as one of the sacred temples, hailed as one of the "Hoa Lu Four Towns". The historical and cultural relic of Saint Nguyen Temple was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Architectural and Artistic Relic in 1989.

To show respect to the Ly Dynasty National Master - as a custom at the Nguyen Temple, local people held festivals on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of the third lunar month.

In recent years, with the people's respect for Saint Nguyen; to preserve unique cultural features; promote traditional historical values, Saint Nguyen Temple Festival has been held regularly every year and has been upgraded in scale, content, and organization space, recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024.

The traditional festival of Saint Nguyen Temple is imbued with historical and cultural festival characteristics, closely associated with the life, career and legend of Zen master Nguyen Minh Khong; plays a particularly important role in the cultural and spiritual life of the community; is a creative product demonstrating community cohesion.

The cultural identity in the Nguyen Temple Festival has been maintained, practiced and passed down from generation to generation by the community, with a strong influence on the spiritual and cultural life of the people of Gia Vien district and visitors from all over.

Preserving and promoting the good values ​​of the Nguyen Temple Festival as preserving the sacred soul of Gia Vien land rich in historical and cultural traditions, the Party Committee, Government and People of Gia Vien always respect, take pride in and create all conditions for the Festival to take place solemnly and joyfully, truly becoming a spiritual activity rich in national cultural identity, a place to return to for a large number of people and tourists...

Coming to the Nguyen Temple Festival this year, delegates, people and tourists will learn about the unique architecture of the Later Le Dynasty of the National Architectural Monument of Nguyen Temple, learn about the medicinal herb garden of Pharmacist Nguyen Minh Khong and especially enjoy the unique spiritual cultural space of 13 traditional rituals showing respect for Saint Nguyen Minh Khong; participate in experiencing many unique and attractive folk festival contents...

Leaders of Gia Vien district beat drums and gongs to open the 2025 Nguyen Temple Festival.

The District Party Secretary beat the drum to open the 2025 festival

At the opening ceremony, a special art program took place with the theme: "The legend of Ly Quoc Su Minh Khong appears forever - Gia Vien shines brightly in the countryside".

On this occasion, the Festival Organizing Committee distributed 960 herbal medicine bags to the people and tourists and 960 yellow camellia flowers - the Saint of Ninh Binh to the Management Boards of the relics of temples and pagodas worshiping Duc Thanh, bronze casting villages, hospitals, medical units and ancient medicine pots of Gia Vien at the gate of Vong Lau - the old house where Duc Thanh studied with his master, where the imprints of the Thach Dang tree and the Stone Book tree remain.

* Previously, central leaders, provincial leaders, leaders of departments and branches of the province and Gia Vien district offered incense to express gratitude, commemorate and celebrate the 960th birthday of Saint Nguyen (1065-2025).

According to Ninh Binh Newspaper

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/khai-mac-le-hoi-den-thanh-nguyen-va-don-nhan-danh-hieu-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-quoc-gia-2025040613440883.htm