Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival: A Spiritual Cultural Icon of the Sacred Land
The Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival is one of the largest and most significant festivals in the Red River Delta, associated with two outstanding Vietnamese figures: Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan and national hero Nguyen Trai. Beyond commemorating the merits of these ancestors, the festival is a unique cultural space where history, belief, and contemporary life converge, especially since the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic complex was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage.
Origins and Historical Significance
The Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival is actually a combination of two major festivals held at two famous relic clusters in Hai Duong province (now Chi Linh city) and Hai Phong city (now Tran Hung Dao ward). This land is closely tied to the lives and careers of two great historical figures.
Kiep Bac and Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan: Kiep Bac (Hung Dao commune, Chi Linh city, Hai Duong province) was where Tran Quoc Tuan settled and built his estate, which became a crucial military base during the resistance wars against the Nguyen-Mongol invaders. After his death on the 20th day of the 8th lunar month in the year of Canh Ty (September 5, 1300), the people built a temple in his honor at Van Kiep, known as Kiep Bac Temple. This is one of the most solemn places of worship for the national hero who led the Tran dynasty's forces to defeat the Nguyen-Mongol invaders three times, achieving glorious victories at Chuong Duong, Ham Tu, Van Kiep, and Bach Dang.
Con Son and Nguyen Trai: Con Son (Chi Linh city, Hai Duong province) is closely associated with the life of Nguyen Trai, a brilliant politician, military strategist, diplomat, cultural figure, and poet. He contributed greatly to the victory of the Lam Son insurgents against the Ming invaders and authored the "Binh Ngo Dai Cao" (Great Proclamation upon the Pacification of the Wu), considered the nation's second declaration of independence. Con Son is also linked to the years Nguyen Trai retreated into seclusion, writing immortal literary works such as "Bai ca Con Son" (Con Son Ode). This place bears the deep imprint of the national hero and outstanding cultural figure, whom UNESCO honored as a World Cultural Celebrity.
Operational Mechanisms and Distinctive Rituals of the Festival
The Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival is held annually with two main seasons: the Spring Festival (in the first lunar month) and the Autumn Festival (in the eighth lunar month). Each festival period features solemn rituals and distinctive cultural activities, expressing reverence and gratitude from later generations.
Spiritual rituals are conducted methodically, following traditional protocols, including: the proclamation ceremony, the festival opening ceremony, the seal-opening ceremony, the prayer for peace, and the flower lantern festival. A key highlight is the water procession on the Luc Dau River, recreating the heroic atmosphere of naval reviews and preparations for river battles during the Tran dynasty. Additionally, the festival of hau Thanh (mediumship) performances, featuring hat van (spiritual singing), is a distinctive cultural and religious practice, symbolizing the connection between humans and the spiritual world, praying for national peace and prosperity.
Significant Event of 2025: Honoring the World Cultural Heritage
The 2025 Autumn Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival holds special significance as it coincides with the momentous event of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex being officially inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. This event marks a major turning point, elevating this sacred land to an international level.
According to Nhan Dan newspaper, on the evening of October 12, 2025, at Kiep Bac Temple, Hai Phong city solemnly held a ceremony to commemorate the 725th anniversary of the death of national hero Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan (1300-2025), simultaneously opening the Autumn Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival and announcing the global value of the Heritage. The event was attended by numerous Party and State leaders and pilgrims from all directions, demonstrating the festival's importance and reach.
All activities of the 2025 festival were directed toward the message "Honoring Heritage - Spreading Vietnamese Values." From billboards and media publications to the festival space design, all bore the new heritage identity. This reflects the aspiration to make Con Son - Kiep Bac an international spiritual and cultural destination, while contributing to preserving and promoting the nation's significant cultural values.
The Festival as a Confluence of Culture and Tourism
Beyond spiritual rituals, the Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival is also an attractive cultural and tourist destination. The 2025 Autumn Festival was assessed as the largest ever, with twice the number of cultural activities compared to previous years.
A highlight was the Culture, Tourism, and Trade Promotion Week lasting several days, featuring three major exhibition spaces: traditional craft villages, OCOP products and typical agricultural goods, and distinctive cuisine. Visitors not only pay homage to the ancestors but also have the opportunity to experience and interact with artisans at renowned craft villages such as Chu Dau pottery, Thanh Lieu woodblock printing, and Xuan Neo embroidery. Specialty dishes like green bean cakes, cha ruoi (fried sandworm patties), spicy fish noodle soup, and crab spring rolls serve as bridges bringing local flavors to visitors.
Additionally, performances of folk arts such as cheo (traditional opera), ca tru (ceremonial singing), hat van, and water puppetry were elaborately staged with themes connected to the historical stories of this sacred land. These activities make the visitor experience both intimate and profound, contributing to the spread of the nation's positive traditional cultural values.
Architecture and Heritage Space
The Con Son - Kiep Bac relic complex is a typical architectural, cultural, historical, and scenic complex, linked to a system of relics stretching from Yen Tu (Quang Ninh), Vinh Nghiem (Bac Giang) to Con Son and Kiep Bac (Hai Duong, Hai Phong). It is not only a witness to momentous historical events but also a convergence of rich tangible and intangible cultural values. The UNESCO recognition as a World Cultural Heritage affirms the globally outstanding values of this relic complex, while also placing great responsibility on preserving and promoting heritage values for future generations.
Conclusion
The Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival is a special spiritual cultural space that honors the nation's great historical and cultural values associated with the two luminaries Tran Hung Dao and Nguyen Trai. Held annually, the event is not only an occasion for the people to express gratitude and remember the merits of their ancestors but also an opportunity to promote and introduce the nation's cultural heritage values to international friends. With its strong transformation following UNESCO recognition, the Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival not only preserves historical values but also becomes a cultural product of international stature, affirming its position as an important cultural and spiritual tourism center of the country.
