On the morning of April 30, thousands of people, Buddhists and tourists gathered at the Bai Tho Mountain National Historical Relic Complex to participate in the Tran Quoc Nghien Temple Festival. The festival is part of a series of events during the Ha Long Tourism Week 2023, aiming to contribute to preserving religious culture and promoting and stimulating local tourism.
Duc Ong Hung Vu Vuong Tran Quoc Nghien was the eldest son of Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, the eldest grandson of An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu and the nephew of King Tran Thai Tong. He was a talented general, both literary and martial, a devoted son and loyal subject of the royal court. During the second and third resistance wars against the Yuan-Mongol invaders of the nation, he, along with his father King Tran Quoc Tuan and other generals, achieved many great feats and was awarded the title of "Khai Quoc Cong" by King Tran.
To commemorate Tran Quoc Nghien's merits, boat owners passing Bai Tho Mountain built a temple to worship him. The temple was built a long time ago, and through many historical and time changes, the temple has deteriorated and been restored many times. The latest restoration was in 2002, giving the temple a spacious appearance as it is today. Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple is located in the Bai Tho Mountain Historical - Cultural Relic and Scenic Area, which has been recognized as a national historical and cultural relic. Not only is it a place for spiritual and cultural activities of local people, Duc Ong Temple is also a spiritual tourist attraction that attracts visitors.
The festival of Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple is held on the 24th day of the third lunar month every year (the day of his death). However, since 2008, the festival of Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple has been restored and held on the 29th and 30th of April in conjunction with the annual Ha Long Tourism Week. This is an opportunity for people to review the glorious historical traditions of the nation, arousing the pride and patriotic traditions of the previous generation through recreated images such as: the procession of Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien's tablet with the generals escorting him through the streets, the sacred torch procession, the flower lantern releasing ceremony...
This year's festival took place on April 29 and 30 with the traditional rituals including: Buddhist scripture ceremony, Tran Dynasty worship ceremony, Mother Goddess worship ceremony, Muc Duc ceremony, white paper opening ceremony, sacred torch procession ceremony, Duc Ong Vi Hanh procession ceremony, animal release ceremony, and lamp sitting ceremony. After the opening ceremony, the Duc Ong Vi Hanh procession ceremony was solemnly performed, from Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien temple to Le Thanh Tong street, to Long Tien pagoda and then back to the temple. This year's procession attracted nearly 30 groups with about 2,000 participants, including Buddhists, representatives of organizations and neighborhoods of Hong Gai ward.
Participating in the festival, people and tourists release flower lanterns on the sea to pray for favorable weather, art performances, watching historical scenes about the life and career of King Hung Vu Tran Quoc Nghien and folk games such as: Lion and dragon dance, human chess competition.
The evening ceremony is the most anticipated by locals and tourists because it has a great meaning of Duc Ong enlightening and enlightening people's wisdom. Moreover, the ceremony of releasing flower lanterns on the sea is also to pray for favorable weather all year round, so that fishermen can work and fish in peace. The festival event space is expanded to the entire Bai Tho Mountain relic complex, including Duc Ong Temple, Long Tien Pagoda, some streets in Hong Gai Ward and Bach Dang Ward, attracting not only locals but also tourists to participate.
The festival of Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple is solemnly held during the annual Tourism Week, which is an opportunity for people and visitors from near and far to understand more deeply the historical and cultural value of the historical and scenic relic complex of Bai Tho Mountain - Long Tien Pagoda - Duc Ong Tran Quoc Nghien Temple. From there, the festival raises the responsibility to protect, preserve, and contribute to the restoration and promotion of the historical relic value of Ha Long City.
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