Festival highlights global value of Con Son – Kiep Bac special national relic site

Festivals are one of important factors that increase the historical and cultural value of each relic, which is clearly shown through Con Son – Kiep Bac festivals, held every spring and autumn in Hai Duong province.

Most activities of the autumn festival take place at Kiep Bac temple, the place to worship National Hero, Supreme Commander Tran Hung Dao.

This site also marks uncompromising battles of the army and people of Dai Viet (old name of Vietnam) against invasions of the Mongols - the world’s most powerful army in the 13th century.

This year’s festival comes in a particularly important context. Hai Duong will, on behalf of Quang Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, organize a worthy festival before the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism submits a dossier to the Prime Minister for UNESCO’s recognition of Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex as world cultural heritage.

The festival opening ceremony will be held on September 30 evening.

A seal opening ceremony will take place the same night at Kiep Bac temple. This is an extremely important ritual of every autumn festival, which is anticipated by tens of thousands of local people and visitors.

The ever-largest Culture, Tourism, and Trade Promotion Week of the festival will open on the morning of the same day with more than 60 booths of Hai Duong and other localities across the country.

Along with that is the 723rd death anniversary of National Hero Tran Hung Dao.

The highlight of the autumn festival will be a majestic army festival on the Luc Dau river, with the participation of many boats of fishermen from various regions.

The festival, restored in 2006, is one of a kind in Vietnam, mirroring the courage and solidarity of Dai Viet's army and people in front of powerful enemies.

The seal opening ceremony and Tran Hung Dao’s death anniversary make the Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival a sacred one.

Nowadays, four sacred seals of Saint Tran are extremely important tools for people to pray for peace, protection, national defense…

The autumn festival also has profound humanity, reflected by a requiem and a lantern festival on the Luc Dau river.

The event essentially aims to pray for the peace of the soul of the army and people of Tran and other Vietnamese dynasties, even China’s Song and Yuan ones, who fought and died there.

“All preparations have been made. Everything is ready for a successful festival to leave a good impression on locals and visitors,” said Nguyen Thi Thuy Lien, Head of the Con Son - Kiep Bac Relics Management Board.

The autumn festival, the only one in Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex, is a unique feature and an opportunity to enhance the value of the complex on the path to becoming cultural heritage of humanity, Lien added.

TIEN HUY