What is the Co Loa Festival and why is it considered a heritage?
The Co Loa Festival is one of the long-standing festivals of Vietnamese culture, held mainly at the Upper Temple, where King Thuc Phan An Duong Vuong, credited with founding the Au Lac state and the Co Loa capital, is worshipped, in Dong Anh District, Hanoi. The festival opens on the 6th day of the first lunar month annually. It serves the cultural and spiritual needs of the people, educates on the tradition of remembering those who built the nation, and honors the tradition of resisting foreign invaders.
Beyond a local festival, the Co Loa Festival has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This recognition affirms its special value in the community's cultural and spiritual life and sets requirements for preserving and promoting the heritage in contemporary contexts. The festival attracts people and visitors to the relic site, contributes to its embellishment and restoration, and raises awareness of preserving an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity.
Origin and historical significance
Legend has it that the 6th day of the first lunar month is the day An Duong Vuong ascended the throne. People from eight villages in the area chose that day to hold a festival to commemorate his merits. Thus, the Co Loa Festival is also called the Loa Thanh Bat Xa Festival, meaning the festival of eight communes in the ancient Loa Thanh area.
Historically, An Duong Vuong is noted for founding the Au Lac state and building Co Loa Citadel over 2,000 years ago. This was the second state in Vietnamese history, succeeding the Van Lang state. The festival is an occasion to remember his contributions and to remind people of lessons in protecting national independence.
The festival's significance is twofold: it honors the nation-builder and recalls the historical lesson of vigilance. It reviews the lesson of protecting national independence, not being negligent or losing vigilance in any situation. This unique aspect distinguishes it from purely seasonal or folk-belief festivals.
Time, location, and scale
The Co Loa Festival takes place on the 6th day of the first lunar month annually. The main venue is the Upper Temple in the Co Loa Special National Relic Site, Dong Anh District, Hanoi. The festival often lasts several days after the opening; for example, in 2024, it ran from the opening day to the 16th of the first lunar month.
The scale is large. On the opening day, tens of thousands attended to offer incense in memory of An Duong Vuong. It is a major regional festival tied to the eight villages of Loa Thanh Bat Xa. The large participation of locals and visitors shows its vitality in contemporary life and reflects the community's cultural and spiritual needs.
Festival structure: rituals and festivities
Solemn rituals
The Co Loa Festival includes important rituals. In recent years, it has featured: incense offering by the eight Loa Thanh communes; performance of offering and worship rituals; and a palanquin procession for King An Duong Vuong. These are central rituals expressing the community's reverence for the nation-building king.
The incense offering by the eight communes shows the festival's deep communal nature. The eight communes participate together, fostering cohesion among local communities. The rituals are performed traditionally, helping maintain intangible cultural values tied to ancestor worship.
The palanquin procession is a highlight. The palanquin is carried through the relic site, attracting many participants. These rituals are not only spiritual but also vivid historical education, helping younger generations understand their roots.
Festivities with traditional cultural activities
Beyond rituals, the festival features rich traditional cultural activities: wrestling, crossbow shooting, volleyball, human chess, classical opera performances, swinging, Dao Thuc water puppetry, and quan ho singing on dragon boats.
The diversity reflects the composite nature of Vietnamese traditional festivals, where many folk cultural forms coexist. Wrestling and crossbow shooting evoke martial spirit and resistance traditions. Human chess and swinging are highly communal folk games. Classical opera and quan ho singing on dragon boats show cultural exchange, especially the presence of quan ho, a typical intangible cultural heritage of the Kinh Bac region.
Dao Thuc water puppetry is notable, showing the connection between the Co Loa Festival and nearby traditional craft villages. It also demonstrates regional linkage in traditional cultural activities.
Cultural values and historical lessons
The Co Loa Festival carries multiple layers of value. Culturally, it is an occasion for the community to practice traditional rituals, contributing to preserving and transmitting heritage to future generations. Spiritually, it meets the people's cultural and spiritual needs, providing space to express reverence for those who contributed.
Educationally, it vividly and effectively teaches the tradition of remembering those who built the nation. Through participation, people, especially the youth, can access national history visually. This is a strength of traditional festivals over purely theoretical history education.
Historically, it reviews the lesson of protecting national independence. The story of An Duong Vuong and Co Loa Citadel is tied to the lesson of vigilance, not being negligent or losing vigilance in any situation. This timeless lesson is remembered and passed down through generations.
Preservation and promotion of heritage values
The recognition of the Co Loa Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage sets specific requirements for preservation and promotion. Leaders of Dong Anh District, Hanoi, have affirmed their commitment to preserve and promote its values to match its national status.
Preservation is linked to embellishing and restoring the relic site. The festival attracts people and visitors, contributing to restoration and raising awareness of preserving an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity. This is a reciprocal relationship: the festival attracts visitors, providing resources for relic preservation, and a well-preserved site enables the festival to be held in a suitable space.
Additionally, the festival promotes the local image. In recent years, activities like exhibitions on Co Loa Citadel have been organized, introducing the relic's values to the public. The combination of festival and exhibitions shows a diverse approach to promoting heritage values.
Points to note when learning about the festival
When studying the Co Loa Festival, distinguish between legend and history. The story of An Duong Vuong, Co Loa Citadel, and related events exists in both folk legend and historical records. The festival is where these intersect, creating the community's rich cultural life.
Also note that festival information may vary yearly in scale, duration, and specific activities. Interested parties should consult official local sources for accurate schedules.
Methodologically, studying traditional festivals should be placed in the broader context of Vietnamese culture, including ancestor worship, community activities, and other intangible cultural heritage forms. This approach helps deepen understanding of the festival's role in Vietnamese spiritual life.
Conclusion
The Co Loa Festival is an important national intangible cultural heritage, tied to the Co Loa Special National Relic Site and the historical figure An Duong Vuong. With a fixed opening on the 6th day of the first lunar month, it maintains a stable cultural rhythm across generations. Its structure of solemn rituals and rich festivities creates special appeal, attracting tens of thousands annually.
Its value lies in combining commemoration of the nation-builder, education on remembering those who built the nation, and reminding of the lesson to protect national independence. These timeless values remain relevant today. Preserving and promoting the festival is not only a local government task but a community responsibility to maintain national cultural identity in integration.
