Festivals of the Ancient Capital
The spiritual and folk festival season of this thousand-year-old land — set a reminder so you don't miss out
Nguyễn Công Trứ Temple Festival
Commemorating Land-Reclamation Commissioner Nguyễn Công Trứ — who led the reclamation that founded the coastal district of Kim Sơn in the 19th century. The people of Kim Sơn hold a ceremony at his temple to honor his merit in opening up the land.
Báo Bản Nộn Khê Festival
Already held · expected next year"Báo bản" means remembering one's roots — the Nộn Khê village festival honors the ancestors who cleared the land and founded the hamlet, famous for its customs of poetry appreciation and reading eulogies praising the merits of forebears.
Duyên Ninh Pagoda Festival
Already held · expected next yearIn early spring, Duyên Ninh Pagoda in the Ancient Capital region welcomes large crowds coming to worship Buddha, pray for peace and especially pray for love. Tied to the love story of Princess Phất Ngân and Lý Công Uẩn, it is a familiar pilgrimage spot for young people during Tết.
Dâu – Quán Cháo Temple Festival
Already held · expected next yearThe Đền Dâu and Đền Quán Cháo cluster in Tam Điệp is tied to the legend of the Mother Goddess and the merit of supplying provisions to the Tây Sơn insurgent army. In early spring, locals and visitors from afar come to offer incense and pray for luck and fortune, creating a lively spring festival at the province's southern gateway.
Thiên Tôn Cave Festival
Already held · expected next yearA festival at the Thiên Tôn Cave temple-cave, dedicated to the deity guarding the Eastern gate among the 'Hoa Lư Four Guardians'. Held at the gateway into Ancient Capital with traditional rites and folk festivities, it is rich in the religious color of the ancient capital region.
Bàn Long Pagoda Festival
Already held · expected next yearThe Bàn Long Pagoda festival — the ancient 'coiled dragon' temple from the Lý dynasty set against a rock cave in Ninh Xuân. The festival has the atmosphere of a traditional village fair, with Buddhist rites and folk games, amid mountain scenery near the core heritage zone of Tràng An.
Địch Lộng Pagoda Festival
Already held · expected next yearThe Địch Lộng Pagoda festival — a pagoda set inside a cave, hailed as the 'third greatest cave of the southern skies'. The festival is calmer than those at Bái Đính or Hoa Lư, a humble early-spring cultural touch of the Gia Viễn people.
Đinh Bộ Lĩnh Temple Festival (Gia Phương)
Already held · expected next yearA festival in the homeland of King Đinh Bộ Lĩnh in Gia Phương (Gia Viễn) — the origin of the sacred flame that is processioned to Hoa Lư Ancient Capital. Honoring the man who quelled the Anarchy of the 12 Warlords and founded Đại Cồ Việt, it is closely linked with the Hoa Lư Festival.
Thánh Nguyễn Temple Festival
Already held · expected next yearIn memory of Zen master Nguyễn Minh Không — National Preceptor of the Lý dynasty, founding patriarch of bronze casting, and the healer of King Lý Thần Tông. The temple was built on the grounds of Viên Quang pagoda, which he founded.
Hoa Lư Festival (Trường Yên)
Already held · expected next yearA provincial-level festival commemorating King Đinh Tiên Hoàng and King Lê Đại Hành, marking the 1058th anniversary of Đinh Bộ Lĩnh ascending the throne as Emperor (968), reenacting the heroic spirit of nation-building of the Đại Cồ Việt state. It has been inscribed as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Bái Đính Pagoda Festival
Already held · expected next yearOne of the largest spring festivals in the North, opening on the 6th day of Tết and lasting throughout the three spring months. A pilgrimage to Vietnam's largest pagoda complex, with a corridor of 500 Arhats.
Thái Vi Temple Festival
Already held · expected next yearIn memory of the Trần kings and those who helped found the Vũ Lâm temporary palace — a base of resistance against the Yuan-Mongol invaders in the 13th century. Thái Vi Temple lies amid the Tam Cốc fields, with exquisitely carved bluestone architecture.
Tràng An Festival
Already held · expected next yearA water-procession ceremony honoring Đức Thánh Quý Minh Đại Vương — the guardian deity of the Sơn Nam frontier, worshipped at đền Trần (Tràng An), tied to the belief in river-and-mountain deities of this scenic region.
Cúc Phương Great Forest Festival
Already held · expected next yearAn occasion celebrating Vietnam's first national park, tied to the butterfly season that fills the forest (April–May) and ecotourism activities: forest walks, watching rescued animals released back into the wild, and conservation education experiences.
Tuần Du lịch ‘Sắc vàng Tam Cốc – Tràng An’
Already held · expected next yearAn annual tourism week celebrating the heritage, held right at the rice-ripening season when both banks of the Ngô Đồng River turn golden. The highlight is a giant 'rice painting' along the river, a flower-boat parade, art spaces, and local cuisine.