Highlights of Ban Phu Citadel Festival in Dien Bien

It has become a tradition that every year on the 24th and 25th of the second lunar month, the Ban Phu Citadel Festival takes place with many special activities. The festival is held to commemorate the merits of leader Hoang Cong Chat and General Ngai, General Khanh and the people of Muong Thanh ethnic groups who fought bravely to defeat the Phe invaders, protect the village, and liberate Muong Thanh in May 1754.

Singing and dancing performance praising the merits of Saint Hoang Cong Chat. (Photo: Contributor).

The 2025 Ban Phu Citadel Festival is one of the practical activities to celebrate the 271st anniversary of the victory of Hoang Cong Chat's army in liberating Muong Thanh (1754 - 2025); commemorate the 256th anniversary of the death of General Hoang Cong Chat (1769 - 2025); and the 71st anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2025).

The event aims to educate the tradition of patriotism, solidarity, national pride; contribute to promoting and boosting tourism, socio-economic development of Dien Bien district in particular, Dien Bien province in general.

People and tourists attend the festival (Photo: Contributor)

Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh - Chairman of Dien Bien District People's Committee said: Thanh Ban Phu Festival is a religious activity with long-standing folk cultural rituals, aiming to promote and maintain the cultural quintessence of ethnic groups in the district. The festival is an opportunity for people and ethnic groups inside and outside Dien Bien district to exchange and learn from each other.

This is also an opportunity to promote the cultural identity, folk arts and the potential to attract and develop tourism of the district as well as Dien Bien province. At the same time, the Thanh Ban Phu Festival aims to honor and introduce to visitors from all over the world the ritual of worshipping and offering incense to the hero Hoang Cong Chat.

The palanquin procession offering offerings at the opening ceremony of Thanh Ban Phu Citadel (Photo: Contributor)

The 2025 Thanh Ban Phu Festival is organized in two parts: The ceremony and the festival: The ceremony begins with the ritual of carrying offerings, dragon dance, festival drums, congratulating General Hoang Cong Chat on his death anniversary, offering incense and the sacrificial ceremony.

The festival is a series of activities within the framework of the Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival of ethnic groups in Dien Bien district. The mass cultural and artistic festival features folk songs and dances typical of the Thai, Mong and Kho Mu ethnic groups. The artistic exchange has the participation of Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province; Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province; Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang province.

The performances recreating the achievements of leader Hoang Cong Chat left many impressions on locals and tourists.

In addition, the festival also includes sports such as tug of war, throwing a shuttlecock, crossbow shooting, etc., experience activities, sightseeing, exhibitions, display booths promoting cultural products, ethnic cuisine, local OCOP products, and applications related to the cultural life and activities of ethnic communities in Dien Bien district.

Ban Phu Citadel Historical Site - Hoang Cong Chat Temple is a National Historical Site and Ban Phu Citadel Festival is also a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Ngoc Mai - Quoc Dinh