Fostering pride in our national heritage.

Heritage Region Meeting Point

At nearly 80 years old, Mr. Duong Duc Tinh (Truong Yen commune) always chooses the day his hometown festival is held as an opportunity to return home. Mr. Tinh said, "I'm old now, my health is poor, and I rarely have the chance to return home. Therefore, returning home on the day of the festival is both a reunion with relatives and an opportunity to enjoy the vibrant cultural atmosphere of the festival. For me, returning to the festival is like returning to my roots. Even though I'm old, the feeling of excitement and reverence remains intact when I come to the festival. I am truly proud of a festival rich in the cultural identity of my hometown. This is also an opportunity for my children and grandchildren to better understand the history of our nation and the traditions of our homeland," Mr. Tinh said.

For decades, for Ms. Bui Thi Thu's family ( Quang Ninh province), attending the Hoa Lu Festival annually has become a tradition, an opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the heritage site. Ms. Thu shared that each time she comes to the Hoa Lu Festival, she feels a sense of novelty and solemnity. This year, the Hoa Lu Festival also commemorates the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, making the event even more magnificent, yet still very solemn and sacred.

On the opening day of the festival, my family arrived very early to offer incense and express our gratitude for the merits of the ancient emperors. In addition, I enjoyed the festival with its cultural and folk programs, such as drum dances and traditional opera performances. We visited the exhibition booths displaying ancient artifacts, documents, and images from the Dinh, Early Le, and Ly dynasties to learn about the history and traditional values of the Hoa Lu capital in the 10th century, as well as the life and career of King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hành; and viewed hundreds of photographs by various photographers. These photos captured the beauty of Ninh Binh's famous landmarks such as the Hoa Lu ancient capital, Trang An, Bai Dinh, Tam Coc Bich Dong, and Van Long… If we have the opportunity, we will return to Ninh Binh more often to visit and explore more famous places.

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Hoa, Vice Chairman of the Hoa Lu District People's Committee, said: Before and during the festival, thousands of local people and tourists came to visit , offer incense, and participate in the festivities. This is an opportunity for each person to demonstrate the tradition and moral principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," honoring, commemorating, and expressing gratitude to the Emperors and national heroes.

The Hoa Lu Festival is also a place where people can express their hopes and wishes for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and happiness and well-being for their families, villages, and homeland. Through the festival's activities, it also aims to educate future generations of Vietnamese people about patriotic traditions, fostering unity and encouraging them to continue writing the glorious history of the nation in the modern era…

A thousand years of longing

The immense historical significance, the aspiration for independence, unity, and the building of a powerful nation by Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang, associated with the national name Dai Co Viet, and the role and position of Hoa Lu capital, have become invaluable assets of our nation and our people. The spiritual essence of the capital, the merits of nation-building, national defense, and the care for the people by this legendary monarch, remain deeply imprinted throughout history and in the consciousness of the people with profound gratitude. In gratitude for the merits of the former emperors, the people and the state institutions of various periods have erected temples in the area of the former palace and annually organize the Hoa Lu Festival – a major festival, celebrated as a solemn ceremony.

Through the vicissitudes of history, the Hoa Lu Festival—an invaluable asset in the treasure trove of intangible cultural heritage—remains a unique and distinctive cultural and spiritual activity of the people of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh.

The Hoa Lu Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014. The festival has become a destination for locals and domestic and international tourists, a place to express reverence to the ancestors and national heroes who contributed to the founding and preservation of the nation.

Over the years, the Party Committee, Government, and people of Ninh Binh province have always valued, preserved, and promoted the beautiful values of the Hoa Lu Festival, as if preserving the sacred soul of the thousand-year-old ancient capital, so that the great achievements of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang will live on forever in time and on the Vietnamese land. The pride in the ancient Hoa Lu capital and the profound gratitude of today's generations towards the national heroes have been fostered by the Party Committee, Government, and people of the province into a spirit of unity, solidarity, initiative, and creativity to overcome all difficulties and challenges, achieving important and comprehensive achievements in all fields of economy, culture, and society.

The Hoa Lu Festival 2024 also commemorates the 1,100th birthday of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and was solemnly organized by Ninh Binh province, befitting its status as a national intangible cultural heritage. The artistic program on the opening night made a strong impression on visitors with its scale and unique design.

The opening ceremony stage of the festival was inspired by the heritage tourism image of Ninh Binh, with a focus on artifacts and archaeological sites discovered through excavations in the ancient Hoa Lu capital area. Prominent among them was the Dai Viet Quoc Quan Thanh Chuyen brick, along with dragon motifs on decorative designs and architectural materials from the Dinh Dynasty in the 10th century. Matching the grandeur and uniqueness of the stage, the opening night's artistic program was also spectacular and visually stunning, with the theme "The Imperial Capital's Mission," featuring performances by hundreds of artists and actors.

The overarching theme of the art program is a reenactment of the story of King Dinh Tien Hoang, from his childhood to his rise to the throne, establishing the legitimate nation of Dai Co Viet after a thousand years of Chinese rule. Furthermore, it portrays the inheritance of tradition and the continuation of the legacy by today's young generation in building a prosperous homeland, aiming towards becoming a Millennium Heritage City in the future.

During the festival days, it is estimated that thousands of locals and tourists from all over the country gather in the heritage region to immerse themselves in the sacred and legendary atmosphere of the festival. Those who come to the festival can participate in many unique festival activities.

The ceremonial part is solemnly organized with traditional rituals, honoring and expressing gratitude for the merits of the emperors and ancestors who contributed to building and defending the nation; expressing the people's wishes for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and flourishing crops... through rituals such as: the temple opening ceremony, incense offering, water procession, palanquin procession, prayers for the deceased, and lantern festivals, thanksgiving ceremonies...

The festival includes cultural and sporting activities, folk games such as: exhibitions, cockfighting, human chess, drum and gong performances; sports competitions, traditional wrestling competitions… These activities have contributed to preserving and promoting the historical and cultural traditions of the nation; promoting the tourism and cultural potential and strengths, attracting domestic and foreign tourists to Ninh Binh.

The events commemorating the 1,100th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and the Hoa Lu Festival 2024 have concluded, but the lingering positive impressions and fond memories of this land rich in historical and cultural traditions, and of the elegant and hospitable people of the ancient capital, will remain deeply etched in the hearts of visitors from near and far.

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