TL;DR: The Nguyễn Trung Trực Memorial Festival, also known as the Dinh Than Nguyễn Trung Trực Festival, is held annually from the 26th to 28th day of the 8th lunar month in Rạch Giá City, Kiên Giang, honoring the hero who died in 1868. The festival includes solemn rituals and various cultural activities, attracting over one million visitors.
Nguyễn Trung Trực Memorial Festival: Over a Century of Honoring a National Hero
Every year, from the 26th to the 28th day of the 8th lunar month, people across the Mekong Delta flock to Rạch Giá City in Kiên Giang Province to attend the Nguyễn Trung Trực Memorial Festival, also known as the Dinh Than Nguyễn Trung Trực Festival. This is a time to remember the national hero who sacrificed his life for the country, famous for the "Fire at Nhat Tao" and the burning of the Kiên Giang fort.
Who was Nguyễn Trung Trực?
Nguyễn Trung Trực, real name Nguyễn Văn Lịch (also known as Quản Chơn, Quản Lịch), was born in 1838 in Bình Nhật village, Cu An district, Tân An prefecture (now Bình Đức commune, Bến Lức district, Long An province), into a fishing family. He was skilled in martial arts, well-versed in classical texts, upright, and deeply patriotic.
When the French colonized Vietnam, he joined the peasant army under the command of Lanh binh Trương Định. In 1861, he defended Gia Định Citadel under General Nguyễn Tri Phương. After the citadel fell, he gathered resistance forces in the southwestern region, inflicting heavy losses on the French.
The most famous feat was using fire to burn the French gunship L'Esperance at Nhat Tao river. For this victory, he was appointed governor of Hà Tiên. However, before he could take office, Hà Tiên was captured, so he retreated to Tà Niên (now Vĩnh Hòa Hiệp commune, Châu Thành district, Kiên Giang) to organize forces.
In 1868, he led an attack on the Kiên Giang fort, eliminating all French troops and controlling the provincial capital for 10 days. The French mounted a massive campaign, captured him, and brought him to Saigon for interrogation, offering bribes and titles, but he refused. On October 27, 1868, he was executed in Rạch Giá at the age of 30.
How did the Nguyễn Trung Trực Festival begin?
After his death, locals secretly worshipped him at Dinh Than Nam Hải, a small temple in a fishing village on Ông Hiển canal (now Vĩnh Thanh Vân ward, Rạch Giá). In 1891, the temple was relocated to its current site in Vĩnh Thanh ward. Since then, an annual memorial service has been held on the 26th-28th of the 8th lunar month.
Over 156 years, the service has evolved into a major festival, organized with official participation. In 2024, the festival commemorated the 156th anniversary of his death (1868-2024).
What happens at the Nguyễn Trung Trực Festival?
The festival lasts three days, including both ritual and celebratory parts. The ritual includes incense offerings, ceremonies, and eulogies. Cultural activities include:
- Southern amateur music (Don ca tai tu) performances and competitions.
- Vovinam provincial tournament, Kiên Giang Wanderlust Marathon.
- Regional art exhibition VIII (Mekong Delta) and youth theater festival themed "Spirit of the National Hero".
- Calligraphy demonstrations, photo exhibitions "Kiên Giang - Land - People".
- Lion dance, flower car parade, bird singing contest, ornamental plant display.
- Flower lantern competition and lantern night on Kien River.
What values does the festival promote?
The festival is notable for the high degree of voluntary community participation. Many people from neighboring provinces like An Giang, Cần Thơ, and Đồng Tháp arrive days early to help, setting up gates, cooking camps, cleaning the temple, and preparing free meals for pilgrims.
Mr. Phan Văn Minh from An Giang, who has volunteered for years, said: "I and many others come here to contribute money and labor to honor Mr. Nguyen, to express our respect for his merits and virtue." This spirit creates a warm and sacred atmosphere.
Why is the Nguyễn Trung Trực Festival important?
The festival is not just a commemoration but also a means to educate younger generations about patriotism and resistance against foreign invaders. Learning about his life helps youth understand the nation's history and the indomitable spirit of their ancestors.
The festival also contributes to preserving intangible cultural heritage, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. It promotes local tourism and economic development.
What should visitors know about the festival?
Visitors can attend the festival at Dinh Than Nguyễn Trung Trực, 56 Nguyễn Công Trứ Street, Vĩnh Thanh Ward, Rạch Giá City. The festival runs from the 26th to the 28th of the 8th lunar month, but the atmosphere builds days before. Visitors should arrive early, dress respectfully, and maintain cleanliness. The festival attracts over one million attendees, so plan accordingly.
Summary table of key milestones and events in the life of Nguyễn Trung Trực along with his death anniversary ceremony.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1838 | Born into a family working as fishermen | Bình Nhật village, Cửa An district, Tân An prefecture |
| 1861 | Participated in defending Gia Định citadel | Gia Định |
| After the second fall of Gia Định citadel | Gathered resistance forces | the Tây Nam Bộ region |
| Unknown | Used fire attack to burn the small gunboat L’Espérance | Nhựt Tảo river mouth, Bến Lức district |
| Unknown | Appointed as Thành thủ úy of Hà Tiên | Hà Tiên |
| 1868 | Commanded insurgent forces to attack Kiên Giang fort | Kiên Giang |
| 27/10/1868 | Executed by beheading at the age of only 30 | Rạch Giá |
| 1891 | The communal house was relocated to its current site | Vĩnh Thanh ward, Rạch Giá city |
| 2024 | Festival commemorating the 156th anniversary of his sacrifice | Kiên Giang |
