The Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2017 kicked off in the northern province of Hai Duong on October 5, the 16th day of the eighth lunar month.
Parade ritual in Con Son Pagoda
The festival aimed to mark the 717th anniversary of the death of General Tran Hung Dao (or Tran Quoc Tuan), one of the most revered figures in Vietnamese history.
Under the Tran Dynasty (1225 – 1400), the Supreme Commander led the Dai Viet (Great Viet Nam) army to victories over three major Mongolian invasions, making him one of the most accomplished military strategists in the history of the world. He passed away on the 20th day of the eighth lunar month in 1300, at the age of 70.
To commemorate the hero, the local residents built the Kiep Bac Temple, which was recognised as a national heritage site in 1962 and a special national heritage site in 2012.
The festival featured a range of traditional rituals and cultural activities, such as incense offering ceremonies, a water puppetry festival and a military parade on the river.
Covering an area of more than 8 hectares, in Chi Linh Town, the Con Son - Kiep Bac Historical Site is closely associated with the lives and careers of Tran Hung Dao and the great poet Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), who was recognised as a Great Man of Culture of the World by UNESCO in 1980.
The Con Son - Kiep Bac spring and autumn festivals were recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2012.
The Autumn Festival will last until October 9.