Go to Hoang Tien to see the festival.

During the festival season, Hoang Tien commune transforms into a cultural "meeting point," where locals and tourists alike immerse themselves in rituals and customs deeply rooted in the coastal region, clearly experiencing the profound identity of a homeland rich in tradition.

Locals participate in the procession of the Dragon Pearl at the prayer for peace and a bountiful fishing festival in Hoang Tien commune.

During the lunar month of February, locals and tourists alike can immerse themselves in the Kỳ Phúc festival at the Tô Hiến Thành Temple. This is a typical spiritual and cultural activity closely associated with the lives of the coastal residents. The festival is held at the Tô Hiến Thành Temple – a place of worship for the God Hà Rò and the Human God Hoàng Tá Thôn – the reincarnation of Hoàng Minh – the descendant of Tô Hiến Thành, who made significant contributions to fighting foreign invaders, building and protecting the country under the Lý dynasty in the 12th century. The temple is recognized as a national historical, cultural, and architectural monument. Despite numerous renovations and restorations, the temple retains its ancient charm, becoming a spiritual anchor for the people and a cultural destination for tourists visiting the Hải Tiến coastal area. The connection between the monument and the festival creates a cultural space where tangible and intangible heritage, belief and life intertwine. There, traditional values ​​are not only recreated but also naturally continued.

From early morning, the temple area became bustling. Traditional rituals such as processions, incense offerings, and sacrificial ceremonies were conducted solemnly, following customs preserved through generations. Notably, the festival is not just a ceremonial activity, but also an opportunity for the community to participate and share. From the elders performing the sacrificial rites to the villagers directly preparing the offerings, everyone demonstrated the community's solidarity and unity in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values ​​– a key factor in maintaining the festival's vitality over time.

Beyond traditional rituals, the festival is also vibrant with folk games and public cultural activities organized right in the village, attracting a large number of participants. This is not just an occasion for fun, but also a way for traditional cultural values ​​to "live" in present life, instead of just existing in memory.

Following the festive atmosphere of the auspicious festival, in the middle of the second lunar month, Hoang Tien enters a vibrant and symbolic festival with the Prayer for Peace and Fishing Festival. This annual festival commemorates and expresses gratitude to the deities, while also offering people their hopes for a bountiful harvest, calm seas, and a peaceful life. Beyond its solemn ceremonies, the festival is also captivating due to its lively festivities, where folk games and community cultural activities take place, attracting large crowds and creating an atmosphere that is both sacred and intimate.

The highlight of the festival is the procession of the Long Chau boat – a special symbol in the spiritual life of the fishermen. The Long Chau is an elaborately prepared and brightly decorated dragon boat carrying offerings and the wishes of the community. As the procession sets off, the atmosphere becomes solemn yet vibrant, with ceremonial flags, drums, and a long line of people heading towards the sea. At the estuary, traditional rituals are performed with concentration and reverence. This image is not only ceremonial but also evokes a sense of a journey of entrusting faith and hope to the open sea.

Mr. Truong Dinh Dong, who organizes the prayer for peace and a bountiful fishing festival, said: “The festival is deeply spiritual for the people here. It's not just about praying for good fortune, but also a way for the people of the sea to express their gratitude to the ocean and to the generations who built their livelihoods and their homeland. All the rituals are performed with solemnity and meticulousness, attracting widespread participation from the community, including many young people.”

In Hoang Tien commune today, cultural life is quite clearly defined through its system of historical sites and traditional festivals. Along with two major festivals held annually, the commune currently has 10 classified historical and cultural relics, including 2 national-level relics and 8 provincial-level relics. This system of relics and festivals has created a rich and profound cultural foundation. This is not only a spiritual asset but also an important resource for development.

In particular, with its location within the developing Hai Tien coastal tourist area, Hoang Tien has the conditions to promote cultural values ​​associated with tourism development. Recognizing this, the locality has identified the preservation and promotion of cultural values ​​in conjunction with tourism development as a key task. Historical sites are being restored and renovated; festivals are maintained in a way that preserves identity and promotes the role of the community. At the same time, cultural values ​​are gradually being integrated with tourism activities, building cultural values ​​into distinctive tourism products, creating unique experiences.

According to Le Sy Thang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoang Tien commune: "The locality identifies culture as the foundation for sustainable development. Therefore, in parallel with preserving relics and festivals, the locality will continue to promote and gradually build tourism products associated with traditional culture, thereby improving the lives of the people."

Text and photos: Thùy Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ve-hoang-tien-xem-hoi-284478.htm