Festival and event
Cua Ong festival: Cua Ong Temple is dedicated to Tran Quoc Tang, the third son of Tran Hung Dao, who defeated many enemies and brought peace to the region.
Hoàng Câu, a local general who fought bravely against invaders, is also honoured here. The festival dedicates to the merit of Trần Quốc Tảng and other Generals of Trân Dynasty.
Cua Ong Temple is one of the famous Tran Dynasty vestiges of the northeast region. The temple has three areas: low, middle and high, facing the majestic Bai Tu Long Bay. During the war, the middle and lower temples were both destroyed, but today the low temple has been restored.
Formerly, locals organized the main festivity on the second day of the third lunar month. There were grand cult ceremonies, and a palanquin procession carrying Trần Quốc Tảng’s funeral tablets from the temple to a shrine in Trac Chan Commune. Legend has it that this was the place where Tran Quoc Tang’s ashes drifted after being dispersed on the river. The procession would then proceed back to the temple, symbolizing the inspection tour of Tran Quoc Tang (called Ðức Ông).
Quan Lan festival: The festival is organized to commemorate the victory against the Mongol invaders in 1288, as well as the feats of Tran Khanh Du, a famous Tran general. They also pray for good “harvest” from the sea.
Quan Lan Communal House Festival is the village-wide celebration for the inhabitants of the island community of Quan Lan: located the central area of the ancient Van Don Harbour.
The 10th day of the sixth lunar month features the ritual of “closing the village": the inhabitants cannot leave, but those who have moved away and other guests from any corner of the country are welcome.
The festivities of Quan Lan Communal House are comprised of a traditional rowing competition: villagers are divided into two sides. They establish their particular training grounds on the 13th day of the month in order to prepare themselves. The boats used are ordinary 5 to 6-tonne fishing boats, with lowered sails and dragon-heads carved on the fronts.
The 16th day is reserved for receiving the genies. There is a procession for the funeral tablets of Trân Khánh Dư from the temple to the village’s communal house.
On the 18th day at about 3:00 PM (every year at this time the tide reaches the temple’s wharf), the boats start. The "soldiers" on one side wear a white jacket and blue pants, while the other group wears gray or black clothing. When the opposing generals meet each other at the communal house, the “soldiers” and spectators shout resoundingly; the noise echoes throughout the region. The two generals make sword-tracings in the air, and the two troops meet each other three times: symbolizing the three victories during the Trân Dynasty. Following the third meeting, they assemble before the shrine, and the rowing contest begins.
The Quan Lạn Communal House Festival bears characteristics of traditional village festivals, but is particularly grandiose, expressing the military spirit of the Vietnamese in the struggle against foreign invaders.
Tra Co festival: Nearly 600 years ago, Tra Co people built a communal house dedicated to the tutelary genies of the village. The festival is took place to memorize the merit of the tutelary genies of the village and pray good lucks for villagers.
Trà Cổ the site where one first places the pen on the map to draw the S-shaped character of Vietnam. The inhabitants of Tra Co originate from Tra Co.
Quan He (Nguyễn Hữu Cầu), a leader of the peasants who rose up during the Lê - Trịnh period is also worshipped here. Representative of village communal house architecture of Vietnam, the building is still well preserved.
On the 25th day of the fifth lunar month, a procession of boats sails from Trà Cổ to the ancestors’ native land of Ðồ Sơn. On the 30th day of the fifth lunar month, the boats return to Trà Cổ.
The next day, festivities begin with the procession of the King to the sea (also named the procession of the King to the shrine). It is accompanied by an armed troop, an orchestra, a strong and handsome young man chosen by the village population holding the flag and people carrying palanquin.
After the ritual procession, there are agricultural contests, such as a pig-breeding competition. The animals receive intensive care many months in advance from their masters in hopes of getting the first prize. There is also a cooking contest, with the best cooks acquiring fame throughout the village.
On the sixth day, the festivities conclude with a flower dance. In this ritual, the population pray to the genies to allow them to catch many fish, have good luck in their trading activities and to have a prosperous lives.
Thap Cuu Tien Cong Festival: In commemorating the 19 founding fathers who built dykes, created the populated island of today.
Legend has it; the festival opening day was the day founding fathers discovered an underground fresh water on the island, more than 500 years ago.
At Tiên Công Temple, dignitaries present themselves to the founding fathers, then choose four elderly men to assist them in the ritual of ground-breaking.
On the seventh day, the senior men of the village (all older than 70 years old), along with their children and grandchildren, arrive at the temple. The young people carry offerings (include betel and areca, wine, steamed glutinous rice, chicken or the head of a pig) on their heads to the decorative cult tables. The elderly men follow them, if need be, aided by their offspring. Every family makes its own procession. All processions join together near the temple make a jubilant and animated atmosphere but still sacred. The old men present offerings and worship Tiên Công, the ceremony generally ends at noon.
Then, comes the ground-breaking ritual: the four chosen men pick four balls of earth and build a mock dyke in front of the incense table of the founding fathers. They then perform acts of wrestling to represent the “struggle against nature". This is to continue the cause of those who built dykes on the sea to protect the villages and hamlets of the island.
Long Tien Pagoda Festival: Long Tiên Pagoda was built quite recently, 1941, and is the largest pagoda in Hạ Long City. The festivities of the pagoda are not reserved solely for Buddhist faithful, but hold a spiritual meaning for every local.
Some locals say that every day is a festive day at Long Tiên Pagoda. Foreign and domestic tourists arrive for sightseeing, while faithful burn incense and recite prayers to Buddha. But it is on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month that they arrive in greater numbers, and particularly over Têt.
When spring arrives, it is the festive season for the whole region. People call Long Tiên Pagoda Trình (submit) Pagoda. They arrive to burn joss-sticks here first, afterwards to continue on a pilgrimage to Yên Tu Mountain and finally to participate in the festivities at Cua Ông Temple.
Locals organized a procession carrying palanquin pass by Trần Quốc Nghiễn Temple (Ðức Ông Temple) to An Dương Vương Temple in Vung Ðâng via Lồng Tồng then back to the pagoda. It was told that in the carrying palanquin race of the processions many people carrying palanquins run fast seem to fly past the canal like in the tale.
Cua Ong Temple is one of the famous Tran Dynasty vestiges of the northeast region. The temple has three areas: low, middle and high, facing the majestic Bai Tu Long Bay. During the war, the middle and lower temples were both destroyed, but today the low temple has been restored.
Formerly, locals organized the main festivity on the second day of the third lunar month. There were grand cult ceremonies, and a palanquin procession carrying Trần Quốc Tảng’s funeral tablets from the temple to a shrine in Trac Chan Commune. Legend has it that this was the place where Tran Quoc Tang’s ashes drifted after being dispersed on the river. The procession would then proceed back to the temple, symbolizing the inspection tour of Tran Quoc Tang (called Ðức Ông).
Quan Lan festival: The festival is organized to commemorate the victory against the Mongol invaders in 1288, as well as the feats of Tran Khanh Du, a famous Tran general. They also pray for good “harvest” from the sea.
Quan Lan Communal House Festival is the village-wide celebration for the inhabitants of the island community of Quan Lan: located the central area of the ancient Van Don Harbour.
The 10th day of the sixth lunar month features the ritual of “closing the village": the inhabitants cannot leave, but those who have moved away and other guests from any corner of the country are welcome.
The festivities of Quan Lan Communal House are comprised of a traditional rowing competition: villagers are divided into two sides. They establish their particular training grounds on the 13th day of the month in order to prepare themselves. The boats used are ordinary 5 to 6-tonne fishing boats, with lowered sails and dragon-heads carved on the fronts.
The 16th day is reserved for receiving the genies. There is a procession for the funeral tablets of Trân Khánh Dư from the temple to the village’s communal house.
On the 18th day at about 3:00 PM (every year at this time the tide reaches the temple’s wharf), the boats start. The "soldiers" on one side wear a white jacket and blue pants, while the other group wears gray or black clothing. When the opposing generals meet each other at the communal house, the “soldiers” and spectators shout resoundingly; the noise echoes throughout the region. The two generals make sword-tracings in the air, and the two troops meet each other three times: symbolizing the three victories during the Trân Dynasty. Following the third meeting, they assemble before the shrine, and the rowing contest begins.
The Quan Lạn Communal House Festival bears characteristics of traditional village festivals, but is particularly grandiose, expressing the military spirit of the Vietnamese in the struggle against foreign invaders.
Tra Co festival: Nearly 600 years ago, Tra Co people built a communal house dedicated to the tutelary genies of the village. The festival is took place to memorize the merit of the tutelary genies of the village and pray good lucks for villagers.
Trà Cổ the site where one first places the pen on the map to draw the S-shaped character of Vietnam. The inhabitants of Tra Co originate from Tra Co.
Quan He (Nguyễn Hữu Cầu), a leader of the peasants who rose up during the Lê - Trịnh period is also worshipped here. Representative of village communal house architecture of Vietnam, the building is still well preserved.
On the 25th day of the fifth lunar month, a procession of boats sails from Trà Cổ to the ancestors’ native land of Ðồ Sơn. On the 30th day of the fifth lunar month, the boats return to Trà Cổ.
The next day, festivities begin with the procession of the King to the sea (also named the procession of the King to the shrine). It is accompanied by an armed troop, an orchestra, a strong and handsome young man chosen by the village population holding the flag and people carrying palanquin.
After the ritual procession, there are agricultural contests, such as a pig-breeding competition. The animals receive intensive care many months in advance from their masters in hopes of getting the first prize. There is also a cooking contest, with the best cooks acquiring fame throughout the village.
On the sixth day, the festivities conclude with a flower dance. In this ritual, the population pray to the genies to allow them to catch many fish, have good luck in their trading activities and to have a prosperous lives.
Thap Cuu Tien Cong Festival: In commemorating the 19 founding fathers who built dykes, created the populated island of today.
Legend has it; the festival opening day was the day founding fathers discovered an underground fresh water on the island, more than 500 years ago.
At Tiên Công Temple, dignitaries present themselves to the founding fathers, then choose four elderly men to assist them in the ritual of ground-breaking.
On the seventh day, the senior men of the village (all older than 70 years old), along with their children and grandchildren, arrive at the temple. The young people carry offerings (include betel and areca, wine, steamed glutinous rice, chicken or the head of a pig) on their heads to the decorative cult tables. The elderly men follow them, if need be, aided by their offspring. Every family makes its own procession. All processions join together near the temple make a jubilant and animated atmosphere but still sacred. The old men present offerings and worship Tiên Công, the ceremony generally ends at noon.
Then, comes the ground-breaking ritual: the four chosen men pick four balls of earth and build a mock dyke in front of the incense table of the founding fathers. They then perform acts of wrestling to represent the “struggle against nature". This is to continue the cause of those who built dykes on the sea to protect the villages and hamlets of the island.
Long Tien Pagoda Festival: Long Tiên Pagoda was built quite recently, 1941, and is the largest pagoda in Hạ Long City. The festivities of the pagoda are not reserved solely for Buddhist faithful, but hold a spiritual meaning for every local.
Some locals say that every day is a festive day at Long Tiên Pagoda. Foreign and domestic tourists arrive for sightseeing, while faithful burn incense and recite prayers to Buddha. But it is on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month that they arrive in greater numbers, and particularly over Têt.
When spring arrives, it is the festive season for the whole region. People call Long Tiên Pagoda Trình (submit) Pagoda. They arrive to burn joss-sticks here first, afterwards to continue on a pilgrimage to Yên Tu Mountain and finally to participate in the festivities at Cua Ông Temple.
Locals organized a procession carrying palanquin pass by Trần Quốc Nghiễn Temple (Ðức Ông Temple) to An Dương Vương Temple in Vung Ðâng via Lồng Tồng then back to the pagoda. It was told that in the carrying palanquin race of the processions many people carrying palanquins run fast seem to fly past the canal like in the tale.