Nguyen Cong Tru Temple Festival

Nguyen Cong Tru Temple was established to honor Nguyen Cong Tru, recognized as the founder of Kim Son District. This sacred site was built on the location of Nguyen Cong Tru's former residence, where he lived for many years. Remarkably, the temple was constructed while Nguyen Cong Tru was still alive, allowing him to actively participate in its worship. Furthermore, the temple serves as a multi-religious site, welcoming visitors from various backgrounds to partake in the annual festival celebrated here.

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The festival spans three days. Beginning on the 13th of November in the lunar calendar, the first day features the “yết cáo” ceremony, which serves as an opening event to report to Nguyen Cong Tru on the achievements and efforts of the local community over the past year. The following day includes the “chính kỷ” ceremony, highlighted by a procession adorned with intricately carved floats and vibrant flags celebrating Nguyen Cong Tru. During the festivities, many participants don traditional attire, often wearing these outfits in their daily routines. Visitors can enjoy captivating performances from artists playing the “đàn dây” (stringed instrument) and “phách” (percussion), as well as listening to “ca trù,” a traditional Vietnamese folk song. Additionally, the festival features a range of exciting outdoor activities, including the kylin dance, a swimming competition in the An River, and traditional games like human chess, wrestling, and tug of war.

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On the final day of the festival, the 15th of November in the lunar calendar, a “tạ” ceremony is conducted to formally conclude the celebrations.