Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival spreads the value of World Cultural Heritage

Scene of the 725th anniversary memorial service of National Hero Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan.

Attending the ceremony were comrade Tran Thanh Man, Politburo member, Chairman of the National Assembly; Mai Van Chinh, Party Central Committee member, Deputy Prime Minister; leaders of several central ministries and branches and many tourists from all over.

Hung Dao Dai Vuong's real name was Tran Quoc Tuan, the son of An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu, the grandson of King Tran Thai Tong. He was a military genius. During all three times the Yuan-Mongol army invaded Dai Viet, King Tran trusted him and appointed him as a general to lead the army against the enemy.

The funeral oration of King Hung Dao, whose real name is Tran Quoc Tuan.

In particular, during the second and third resistance wars against the Yuan-Mongol, he was appointed by King Tran Nhan Tong as the National Duke Commander of the land and water armies. With his talent, virtue, ability to win people's hearts and profound military art, Hung Dao Dai Vuong, together with the army and people of Dai Viet, achieved resounding victories in Chuong Duong, Ham Tu, Van Kiep, Bach Dang..., defeating the most powerful invading army of that time, gaining independence and freedom for the country.

Delegates offered incense in memory of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan.

With his glorious achievements after three great victories over the Yuan-Mongol army, Hung Dao Dai Vuong returned to his estate in Van Kiep. However, the Tran kings still often came to ask for advice.

He died on August 20, Canh Ty year (September 5, 1300). People at that time built a temple to worship him in Van Kiep, called Kiep Bac Temple.

This year's Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival is associated with the event of honoring the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac relic complex after being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Therefore, all activities are aimed at the message "Honoring heritage - spreading Vietnamese values". From the system of billboards, media publications to the design of the festival space, all bear the mark of identifying the new heritage, expressing the aspiration to turn Con Son-Kiep Bac into an international spiritual and cultural destination.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man beats the drum to open the Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival.

The spiritual rituals of this year's Festival have been raised in scale and form. The Announcement Ceremony, the Opening Ceremony, the Seal Opening Ceremony, the Peace Prayer Ceremony and the Lantern Festival, the Military Festival on Luc Dau River, the Saint Rehearsal Festival... are all elaborately restored, following traditional rituals, but with the addition of lively performance elements, creating a grand and unique scene, helping visitors understand more deeply the merits of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan and the humanitarian ideology of Nguyen Trai.

In particular, this year's Festival is a meeting point between culture and tourism. The Culture, Tourism and Trade Promotion Week becomes the main highlight, lasting for many days with 3 large display spaces: traditional craft villages, OCOP products - typical agricultural products and unique cuisine. Visitors not only admire Chu Dau ceramic products, Thanh Lieu engraving, Xuan Neo lace embroidery, but also directly interact with artisans to feel the soul of traditional crafts. Dishes such as green bean cakes, shrimp paste, spicy fish noodles, crab spring rolls, spicy bread sticks... become a bridge to bring the flavors of the countryside to visitors.

Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the Con Son - Kiep Bac autumn festival.

Folk art performances such as Cheo singing, Ca Tru singing, Van singing, and water puppetry are staged with themes, connected to the historical stories of the sacred land, making the visitor experience both intimate and profound.

The 2025 Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival will be the largest ever, with the number of cultural activities doubling compared to previous years. The festival opens up a rich cultural and spiritual space, where the past and present blend, tradition and modernity go hand in hand.

This is a strong transformation, helping the Con Son-Kiep Bac Festival not only preserve its historical value, but also become a cultural product of Hai Phong city of international stature.

Nguyen Quoc Vinh

Source: https://nhandan.vn/le-hoi-con-son-kiep-bac-lan-toa-gia-tri-di-san-van-hoa-the-gioi-post913431.html