The bustling Ky Yen festival at Tan Lan communal house.

Numerous locals and tourists visited and watched the lion dance at the Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan communal house. Photo: Minh Tai.

Not only does this year's Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan communal house perfectly recreate the distinctive cultural space of Southern Vietnamese communal houses, but it also incorporates vibrant festivities, creating a unique impression and contributing to the honoring of the cultural and religious values of the community in the Tran Bien area.

Festivals in the rhythm of urban life

Taking place over two days, December 12th and 13th (corresponding to the 23rd and 24th of the 10th lunar month), this year's Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan communal house also commemorates the 305th anniversary of the death of Lord Tran Thuong Xuyen (1720-2025). Lord Tran Thuong Xuyen was one of the pioneers who developed the land of ancient Bien Hoa into a thriving economic region, expanding various industries: agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce.

According to Lam Van Lang, head of the Tan Lan communal house's worship committee: To commemorate the contributions of Lord Tran Thuong Xuyen, the local people established a small shrine in the Bien Hoa Citadel area about 200 years ago. In 1861, the shrine was moved to opposite the first-instance court, next to an old banyan tree. In 1906, the shrine was moved by the Vietnamese and Chinese communities to Tan Lan village, Tran Bien district, Phuoc Chinh county (now Tran Bien ward). After several renovations, Tan Lan communal house now has the magnificent appearance it has today.

From early morning, as the festival began, Tan Lan communal house was filled with colorful flags and the sound of drums. A continuous stream of people arrived at the communal house, some carrying offerings, others helping with the cleanup, and still others watching the traditional opera performances. Lion and dragon dance troupes from across the province performed in front of the communal house, creating a scene that was both solemn and lively – characteristic of traditional Southern Vietnamese festivals.

“This year, all preparations were made early and very meticulously by the temple's management board and the local people. We are preserving and practicing the ancient rituals correctly so that the younger generation can understand and appreciate the values left behind by our ancestors,” Mr. Lang shared.

Not only attracting locals from the surrounding area, this year's Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan Temple also welcomed a large number of tourists and esteemed members of temples and shrines from within and outside the province to visit and experience the traditional cultural space in the heart of the city.

Mr. Ngo Tan Bong, Head of the Management Board of Hung Long Temple Relics (Chon Thanh Ward, Dong Nai Province), said: “Having the opportunity to visit Tran Bien and see Tan Lan Temple and witness firsthand the ceremonial students performing the rituals of worship at the temple in a solemn and systematic manner, I have a deeper appreciation for the cultural and religious depth of this land. From that, I am even more inclined to cherish and strive harder in preserving, protecting, and promoting the values that generations of ancestors have diligently cultivated and preserved for hundreds of years.”

The Tan Lan communal house, a national-level architectural and artistic heritage site, was classified as such by the Ministry of Culture, Sports (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1991. Currently, the system of decorative panels, couplets, reliefs, and sacred objects at the site are still preserved quite intact. It is this ancient atmosphere that makes the annual Ky Yen festival at the communal house even more sacred and solemn.

Cultural and religious values are preserved and disseminated.

The annual Ky Yen festival at Tan Lan communal house is not only an occasion to express gratitude and commemorate the merits of Lord Tran Thuong Xuyen, but also a space for locals and tourists to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere and strengthen community bonds. It serves as an environment for preserving folk art forms such as traditional opera, lion dance, and the practice of traditional rituals.

Dr. Nguyen Van Quyet, Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Dong Nai province, said: “The Ky Yen festival at Tan Lan communal house is clear evidence of the harmonious blend of folk beliefs and cultural life of the people in the Tran Bien region. Maintaining and enriching the festival not only preserves the heritage of our ancestors but also builds a sustainable and united community lifestyle.”

This year's festival also saw enthusiastic participation from associations, schools, and many young families from within and outside the province. Many children were brought to the temple early by their parents to watch the lion dance and learn about traditional rituals. The stories recounted by the elders and members of the Temple Management Board about the history of the temple, the merits of Lord Tran Thuong Xuyen, and the community life during the pioneering days contributed to fostering love for their homeland in the younger generation.

Through each festival season, cultural and religious values continue to spread, contributing to preserving the identity of Dong Nai province today.
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My Ny

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202512/ron-rang-le-hoi-ky-yen-dinh-tan-lan-85836e4/