Top 8 famous Northern spring festivals not to be missed

Spring is the time of the year when many of the most unique and meaningful Northern festivals take place. This is not only an occasion for local people to remember the merits of their ancestors, but also an opportunity for tourists to explore the unique traditional cultural beauty of the Northern region.

For Vietnamese people, Northern spring festivals are an indispensable part of their spiritual life. Let's explore the 8 most typical festivals, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to visit and worship at the beginning of the new year.

1. Perfume Pagoda Festival - Hanoi

The bustling dragon dance and drum performance opened the spring festival season at Huong Pagoda 2023 (Photo source: Collected)

Huong Pagoda Festival, one of the most famous tourist destinations in the North, takes place from the 6th of January to the end of the 3rd lunar month in Huong Son, My Duc district, Hanoi. Visitors here will experience a unique journey starting with a poetic boat ride on Yen stream, admiring the beautiful landscape on both banks. During the pilgrimage, visitors will explore the system of amazing natural caves such as Huong Tich cave with unique stalactites, Tien Son cave with strange shapes and mysterious winding Luon cave. The system of pagodas and temples in the area includes the majestic Thien Tru pagoda, the sacred Giai Oan pagoda and the solemn Trinh temple, where visitors can burn incense to pray for peace and participate in spiritual rituals. To make the trip more complete, visitors should not miss the opportunity to enjoy local specialties such as fresh bamboo shoots and rau sang, a typical vegetable of Huong Son mountain area.

2. Yen Tu Festival - Quang Ninh

Yen Tu Festival - one of the biggest festivals in the country in early spring (Photo source: Collected)

Yen Tu Festival is not only a famous tourist destination in the North but also an important Buddhist center, taking place from the 10th of January to the end of the third lunar month. The journey to explore Yen Tu begins with a spectacular cable car ride, allowing visitors to admire the majestic scenery of the Northeast mountains and forests. Along the pilgrimage route, visitors will visit unique spiritual structures such as Hoa Yen Pagoda - where King Tran Nhan Tong practiced, the sacred Ngoa Van Hermitage and the ancient Hue Quang Tower. In particular, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history of Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhism and experience the peaceful life of Zen through meditation sessions with monks. The cuisine here is also a unique experience with exquisite vegetarian dishes and enjoying delicious, famous Yen Tu tea.

3. Opening of Tran Temple Seal - Nam Dinh

The Tran Temple Seal Opening Ceremony is one of the most unique spring festivals in the North, taking place on the night of the 14th and early morning of the 15th of the first lunar month in Nam Dinh. The festival begins with a solemn palanquin procession from Trung Hoa Palace to Thien Truong Temple, where the sacred seal opening ceremony takes place. This is an opportunity for locals and visitors from all over to pray for the Tran Temple Seal with wishes for luck and success in the new year. In addition to attending the main ceremonies, visitors also have the opportunity to explore the Tran Dynasty relic site with unique architecture bearing the mark of the Tran Dynasty and enjoy Nam Dinh specialties such as delicious beef noodle soup, rich sticky rice with grilled pork and soft rice rolls. To be able to ask for the sacred seal, visitors should come early and prepare for the crowded atmosphere of the festival.

4. Lim Festival - Bac Ninh

Lim Festival - The most famous traditional festival in Bac Ninh (Photo source: Collected)

Lim Festival, which takes place from the 13th day of the first lunar month in Bac Ninh, is a place to preserve and promote the unique traditional art of Quan Ho. In the festival space, visitors will be immersed in the sweet Quan Ho melodies performed both on boats and on land by Lien Anh and Lien Chi in traditional costumes. Not only enjoying, visitors also have the opportunity to learn to sing basic Quan Ho melodies, creating unique cultural experiences. The festival also attracts locals and visitors with unique folk games such as swinging, cockfighting, creating a joyful and bustling atmosphere. To make the festival more complete, visitors cannot miss enjoying Phu The cakes - a famous specialty of Bac Ninh and other traditional dishes.

5. Hung Temple Festival - Phu Tho

Crowds of people flock to Hung Temple (Photo source: Collected)

The Hung Temple Festival, which takes place from the 8th to the 11th of the third lunar month, is one of the largest and most meaningful festivals in the North of Vietnam. Here, visitors will be able to attend the solemn incense offering ceremony in memory of the Hung Kings at the Upper Temple - the most sacred place in the relic complex. The temple system includes the Lower Temple, the Middle Temple, and the Well Temple, creating a unique architectural complex where many unique cultural activities take place, such as bronze drum dancing and xoan singing - intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO. Visitors also have the opportunity to participate in traditional activities such as pounding sticky rice cakes, wrapping square sticky rice cakes, and enjoying typical dishes such as sticky rice cakes, bamboo rice, and can wine, contributing to creating a unique cultural experience about the nation's origins.

6. Dong Da Mound Festival - Hanoi

Dong Da Mound Festival, Hanoi (Photo source: Collected)

Dong Da Mound Festival takes place on the 5th day of the first lunar month, an occasion for locals and tourists to commemorate the glorious victory of King Quang Trung - Nguyen Hue. The festival begins with a solemn incense offering ceremony at the temple of King Quang Trung, followed by a grand reenactment of the historic Dong Da battle with the participation of hundreds of extras. Visitors have the opportunity to visit the Quang Trung Museum, which preserves many valuable artifacts and documents about the resistance war against the Qing army. The festival atmosphere is also enriched by unique folk art performances and traditional games, helping visitors understand more about one of the glorious pages of the nation's history.

7. Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival - Ninh Binh

Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival: Unique Dai Viet culture (Photo source: Collected)

Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival, which takes place from January 1 to the end of March of the lunar calendar, is a must-see tourist destination in the North with the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam. Visitors will admire the largest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam, a unique masterpiece of traditional bronze casting. The journey to explore Bai Dinh Pagoda includes visiting both the ancient pagoda with unique architecture and the majestic new pagoda, including the exciting experience of climbing 300 stone steps to reach Cao Pagoda, from where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Vegetarian cuisine at the pagoda is also a unique experience, with dishes delicately prepared from vegan ingredients.

8. Ba Chua Kho Festival - Bac Ninh

Special procession from Dinh Qua Cam to Ba Chua Kho Temple, Bac Ninh (Photo source: Collected)

The Ba Chua Kho Festival, which takes place from the 1st to the 10th day of the first lunar month, is one of the famous spiritual festivals of Kinh Bac. Visitors come here with the wish to pray for wealth and luck in the new year through solemn offerings at the main shrine and to ask for money at the beginning of the year. The temple architecture bears the mark of the Nguyen Dynasty with sophisticated carvings, majestic three-door gates and a solemnly decorated altar system. Around the temple area, there are also many street food stalls, where visitors can enjoy typical dishes of Bac Ninh. To have a complete experience, visitors should prepare appropriate offerings according to local customs and avoid bringing too many votive offerings to keep the environment clean.

Experiences at these festivals will help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the culture, beliefs, customs and rich spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. To have a complete journey, visitors should carefully research information about each festival, plan a suitable itinerary and prepare themselves to immerse themselves in the sacred atmosphere of the first days of spring in the North.

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/le-hoi-mua-xuan-mien-bac-v15876.aspx