Promoting the value of Tran Dynasty cultural heritage on Long Hung

As one of the two special national relics of Thai Binh province, the tomb and temple complex of the Tran Dynasty kings in Tien Duc commune (Hung Ha) is a spiritual and cultural tourist destination for many domestic and foreign tourists. From 2023 to present, the Tran Temple Festival has been organized on a provincial scale, further encouraging tourists to return to Thai Binh land because of the rich and diverse activities held during each festival, thereby practically contributing to the preservation and promotion of the value of the Tran Dynasty's cultural heritage on the land of Long Hung - Hung Ha.

The special national monument of the tombs and temples of the Tran Dynasty kings is a destination for today's generation to gain a deeper understanding of the nation's history.

The homeland where the Tran dynasty originated and built

Thai Binh is a land imbued with the cultural nuances of the Red River Delta, closely associated with the history of building and defending the country of the nation. From the cultural, literary, patriotic and revolutionary traditions, festivals in general, Tran Temple Festival in particular with many rich contents reflect the tradition of drinking water and remembering its source, honoring the gods, national heroes, and those who have made great contributions to the homeland and country.

According to legend, Tran Kinh in Huong Tuc Mac gave birth to Tran Hap (who was a fisherman). Tran Hap saved a geomancer and was shown a tomb to produce a king. Tran Hap brought his ancestral tomb to Thai Duong for burial and settled in Luu Xa village. Tran Hap gave birth to Tran Ly, Tran Ly gave birth to Tran Thi Dung, Tran Thua, Tran Tu Khanh. In 1209, the Ly dynasty weakened, the Quach Boc rebellion broke out, Crown Prince Sam fled to Luu Gia village, and married Tran Thi Dung. When King Ly Hue Tong (aka Sam) ascended the throne, Tran Thi Dung was crowned Queen. In 1225, Ly Chieu Hoang (son of King Ly Hue Tong) abdicated the throne to her husband Tran Canh (son of Tran Thua). The Tran family officially began to rule Dai Viet society at the beginning of the 13th - 14th centuries. Leaving from Huong Tinh Cuong land, the Tran family established Long Hung palace in their ancestors' homeland. During their reign over Dai Viet, the Tran kings built the Son Lang area in Thai Duong Lang, now Tam Duong, Tien Duc Commune (Hung Ha) to bury their ancestors and the previous kings of the Tran Dynasty, which are the tomb (former part) of Thai To Tran Thua, Chieu Lang of King Tran Thai Tong, Du Lang of King Tran Thanh Tong and Duc Lang of King Tran Nhan Tong. Along with the tombs of the four queens as recorded in official historical documents.

In the history of the nation, the establishment of temples of feudal dynasties was once considered an important matter, directly related to the destiny of the dynasty. With the consciousness of "fallen leaves returning to their source", it seems that every dynasty chose the place of origin to establish temples. The Tran Dynasty existed in Vietnamese history with 14 kings, lasting and shining for 175 years, was the most brilliant dynasty in the process of feudal history of Vietnam with 3 victories over the powerful Yuan-Mongol invaders, creating the heroic spirit of Dong A forever imprinted in the heroic history of the nation. The Tran kings built Long Hung palace to organize great ceremonies to celebrate the victory. For nearly 800 years, the tombs of the Tran kings in Tam Duong still exist quite intact. Therefore, the tombs of the Tran kings, in addition to their great historical significance, also have important research value for the fields of literature, history, Buddhism... in today's contemporary society.

The folk contest in the Tran Temple festival attracted the participation of many local people.

Towards a civilized and traditional festival season

Over the past decades, since the Tran Temple relic was restored, the festival here has always been maintained. Every year, the Tran Temple Festival is held from January 13 to 18. On this occasion, local people enthusiastically join in traditional sacrificial rituals, unique folk games bringing joy to the first day of the new spring, including the water procession, fish feast competition, kite flying competition, banh chung wrapping competition, rice cooking competition... contributing to making the festival activities both solemn and jubilant. The festival contributes to affirming and honoring the Tran Dynasty's merits in building and defending the country, and is an opportunity for people to express the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", gratitude to the ancestors, kings, generals, royal relatives of the Tran Dynasty. Thereby educating the younger generation about the tradition of patriotism, national pride and self-respect.

Regarding the preparation work towards the series of activities taking place at the Tran Temple Festival in 2025, Mr. Bui Viet Tuan, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Hung Ha district, said: Currently, a number of construction items at the special national relic site of the tombs and temples of the Tran Dynasty kings in Tien Duc commune have been repaired, ensuring conditions for organizing the festival. In particular, the stone paving at the Tam Quan gate of the relic site has been repaired and upgraded, the lighting system and decorative electricity in the relic site have been added; the system of billboards and propaganda slogans on the road leading to the relic site and inside the temple has been renewed. In addition, the organizing committee pays special attention to environmental sanitation and landscape restoration; leveling the area where the opening ceremony of the festival and fair is expected to be held... Localities and relevant units have also prepared favorable conditions for the ceremonial and festival activities according to traditional rituals, suitable for practice to promote the value of intangible cultural heritage at the relic site.

According to Mr. Bui Viet Tuan, the new point at this year's Tran Temple Festival is that in the opening ceremony of the festival, the organizing committee has worked hard to develop an art program with the theme "Radiant Thai Binh, the Holy Mother Land, the Holy Land, the sacred mark of Buddhism" with the participation of artists and actors from inside and outside the province. In addition, throughout the days of the traditional festival, in the space in front of the five gates of Tran Temple, from February 7 to 16 (January 10 to 18), the At Ty Spring Fair 2025 will take place with a scale of 300 - 350 booths of 300 businesses nationwide.

Harmoniously combining tradition and modernity, Tran Temple Festival not only shows the unique culture of Thai Binh land and people and Long Hung - Hung Ha area but also creates a joyful and exciting atmosphere for all classes of people in the early spring. The festival contributes to promoting the socio-economic development of the province in general and Hung Ha district in particular, while practically implementing the goals set out in Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU on developing tourism into an important economic sector of the province.