Dragon dance at Da Hoa temple in Binh Minh commune, Khoai Chau, Hung Yen province. (Photo: Mai Ngoan/VNA)

The Chu Dong Tu-Tien Dung Festival re-enacts the rich, lively cultural life and profound cultural values of the ancient Vietnamese people living along the Red River. It’s an important cultural event in the provincial cultural festival program, responding to the National Tourism Year of the Red River Delta-Hai Phong 2023.

The annual festival is held at Da Hoa temple in Binh Minh commune and Hoa temple in Da Trach commune. Legend has it that Da Hoa temple is the start of the most beautiful love story in Vietnamese folk literature. It is where Princess Tien Dung met the poor fisherman Chu Dong Tu, who was later revered by the people as Saint Chu Dong Tu. Hoa temple is where Chu Dong Tu and his two wives ascended to heaven. Da Hoa Temple and Hoa Temple were designated national historical-cultural relics in 1962 and 1988.

This year the festival was held on the biggest scale ever at Da Hoa Temple with the participation of 9 villages of Binh Minh commune in Khoai Chau district and Me So commune in Van Giang district.

Opening the festival is the procession of village tutelary gods to Da Hoa temple. Heading the procession is a 20-meter dragon, which dances to the beat of drums. After the dragon dance, groups of people wave festival flags, play drums, gongs, and other ritual musical instruments, perform mock fights with spears and swords, and dance with conical hats.

During the festival at Da Hoa temple, people organize a procession to fetch water from the Red River to Hoa Temple to worship Saint Chu Dong Tu. According to custom, the water used for ceremonies must be taken from the middle of the Red River to show people’s respect and gratitude to the Saint. People believe that if the water collection is acceptable to Saint Chu Dong Tu, the villagers will enjoy a bumper harvest and prosperous business.

When the water is taken to the temple, the main festival begins. A senior villager reads the opening speech, reviewing the merits of Saint Chu Dong Tu and other national heroes. "Dear villagers and guests! Today we jubilantly celebrate the traditional festival to commemorate Saint Chu Dong Tu and his two wives, who set a shining example of filial piety an

The panlaquin procession at the Chu Dong Tu-Tien Dung Festival (Photo: VNA)

Following the rituals, people perform folk dances and play folk games such as human chess, catching ducks, and walking on a bamboo pole. 

“This year’s festival is being held on a large scale for three days. We have many activities, such as a procession of water from the river to the temple and cultural and art performances," said Nguyen Nhu Dang, Chairman of Da Trach commune’s People’s Committee.

The Da Hoa Temple and Hoa Temple Festival is on the list of national intangible cultural heritages recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The recognition demonstrates the deep gratitude of the present generation for national historical, cultural, and spiritual heritages.

Hong Van