Going to the Gióng festival in early spring - intangible cultural heritage of humanity

Variety of festival activities

According to the plan, the Gióng festival in Sóc temple in 2025 will be held from February 3 to February 5, 2024 (ie January 6 to 8, At Ty year). This is the biggest cultural and religious event of the year in Sóc Sơn district to honor, promote and introduce the value of the Gióng festival in Sóc temple - a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Director of the Soc Temple Tourism and Relic Management Center Dao Anh Tu said that the 2025 Gióng Festival at Soc Temple will consist of two main parts. Like previous festival seasons, the ceremony will include the procession of 8 offerings and the sacrifices of the villages.

Bamboo flower procession at the Giong Festival at Soc Xuan Temple, Giap Thin year 2024.

The eight traditional offerings offered by villages at the Gióng festival in Sóc temple in 2025 will still include: bamboo flower, divine horse (war horse), war elephant, betel and areca nut, elephant tusk, elephant grass, young female general and cau huc.

This year’s festival promises to be exciting and attractive with sports competitions (wrestling, volleyball). Along with that, traditional folk games are organized such as: stilt walking, pot smashing, tug of war, balancing bridge and especially the clay pot rice cooking competition.

Also at the Gióng festival in Sóc temple in 2025, the Keo Mo ritual game continues to be recreated. Along with that is the Cầu Húc wrestling competition and special art programs to serve the people and tourists coming to the festival.

Prepare carefully for the festival

As the biggest cultural and religious event in Hanoi, the annual Gióng festival at Sóc Temple attracts millions of visitors from all over the country to visit, have fun, and pray for good luck in the spring. Therefore, the preparation work is of special concern to Sóc Sơn district.

It is noted that, at present, the preparation work for the Gióng festival at Sóc temple has been basically completed by Sóc Sơn district. Along the path leading to the National Special Relic Site of Sóc temple, the roadway and sidewalks have been renovated and decorated for the festival. The grounds of the relic site have been cleaned and made beautiful.

Soc Temple grounds before the opening day of the festival on January 6 (February 3, 2025).

As in previous years, at the Gióng Temple Festival in 2025, service activities such as parking and trading will continue to be tightened. The organizing committee is determined to prevent the situation of "taking advantage" of visitors on parking fees. It is strictly forbidden to increase product prices, and will strictly handle acts of trading in counterfeit goods, fake goods, and superstitious publications at the festival.

Street vending will be controlled. Violent games, disguised gambling, and money-making are also strictly prohibited at the Gióng festival in Sóc temple in 2025. In particular, the inspection and food safety assurance work will be regularly monitored and strictly punished by the District Health Department in coordination with other units during the festival...

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Son district, Ho Viet Hung, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Gióng festival at Soc temple in 2025, said that the general spirit of the district is that the organization of the festival must be carefully prepared, solemn, in accordance with regulations, healthy and economical.

“The district hopes that through the festival, it will create a strong change from awareness to action of all levels, sectors and people in raising awareness of preserving and promoting the value of the festival and the special national relic of Soc temple…” - Mr. Ho Viet Hung emphasized.

Representatives of Soc Son district leaders also hope that through the festival activities, they will contribute to promoting the "Soc Temple Tourist Destination" of Hanoi, as well as the image, potential and strengths of the district to promote local tourism development.