Quoc Oai: Opening of the Traditional Festival of Thay Pagoda and the Week of Culture, Tourism and Trade Promotion in 2025

On the evening of April 1 (March 4, At Ty year), at the special national relic site of Thay Pagoda, Quoc Oai district solemnly held the opening ceremony of the Thay Pagoda Traditional Festival and the Cultural, Tourism and Trade Promotion Week 2025.

The traditional festival of Thay Pagoda is one of the most important and profound spiritual festivals of Quoc Oai district.

Opening ceremony of the Cultural Tourism and Trade Promotion Week of Quoc Oai district in 2025

Attending the ceremony were Major General Nguyen Dinh Luu - Deputy Commander of the Capital High Command; representatives of Hanoi city departments and branches; leaders of Quoc Oai district; agencies, departments, branches, unions of the district, leaders of communes and towns along with a large number of people and tourists from all over.

The Thay Pagoda Festival is a typical folk festival of the Doai region, associated with Thay Pagoda - a special national monument, taking place from the 5th to the 7th of the third lunar month. The festival commemorates Zen master Tu Dao Hanh - a Zen master under the Ly dynasty, who initiated the worship of the Holy Ancestor (a belief that had a great influence on the Vietnamese people during the Ly - Tran dynasties). Zen master Tu Dao Hanh is also the founder of the traditional water puppetry of the nation.

The Thay Pagoda Festival consists of two parts: Rituals and folk performances. The main rituals still preserved are: Opening Ceremony, Bathing Ceremony, Placing the Tablet in the Worship Ceremony; Offering Ceremony and Procession Ceremony and special art performances.

The Thay Pagoda Festival is a unique form of community activity, demonstrating the cultural identity of the agricultural community in Sai Son commune. The festival is a symbol of solidarity, a deep community connection between the villages participating in the festival and the local community. The consensus of the community contributes to strengthening solidarity, preserving traditional customs, creating a joyful atmosphere, repelling social evils, contributing to building a healthy and sustainable community.

Delegates and many tourists visit Ocop booths at Thay Pagoda Festival

Within the framework of the festival, Quoc Oai district organized 150 booths to introduce and promote cultural, tourism, culinary and craft village products inside and outside the district.

In his opening speech, Vice Chairman of Quoc Oai District People's Committee Hoang Nguyen Ung emphasized: The Traditional Festival of Thay Pagoda and the Cultural, Tourism and Trade Promotion Week of Quoc Oai District in 2025 are a series of important political and cultural events, organized to honor cultural values, traditional festivals, preserve, embellish and promote the value of intangible cultural heritages in the district; gradually exploit the potential and cultural and artistic values ​​of the Thay Pagoda National Special Relic Complex in the direction of developing cultural and historical tourism.

Through this, Quoc Oai district wishes to promote the image of the land and people of Quoc Oai - a "Safe - friendly - quality - attractive" destination with many intangible cultural heritages, craft villages, diverse culinary cultural products, and at the same time continue to promote the conservation and promotion of the value of intangible cultural heritages, raise public awareness of heritage protection, and practice a civilized lifestyle during the festival.

Special art program at Thay Pagoda Festival

The art performance program, reenacting the legend of Zen Master Tu Dao Hanh and the unique cultural values ​​of Quoc Oai land, concluded the Opening Ceremony, leaving a deep impression on the hearts of locals and tourists.

Thanh Lam

Source: https://sovhtt.hanoi.gov.vn/quoc-oai-khai-mac-le-hoi-truyen-thong-chua-thay-va-tuan-le-van-hoa-du-lich-xuc-tien-thuong-mai-nam-2025/