Co Le Pagoda Traditional Festival 2026 opens

The opening ceremony was attended by Major General Vu Van Cuong, Deputy Political Commissar of the General Department of Logistics and Technical Services under the Ministry of National Defence; Dinh Viet Dung, Member of the Sanding Board of the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee and Head of its Organisation Commission; Tran Anh Dung, Member of the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and Mai Thanh Long, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council.

Co Le Pagoda, also known as Than Quang Pagoda, was first built in the 12th century under the reign of King Ly Than Tong. The pagoda is closely associated with the life and contributions of Zen Master and National Preceptor Nguyen Minh Khong, whom local people revere as Saint.

Over more than nine centuries, Co Le Pagoda has become a renowned religious and cultural site, boasting outstanding historical, cultural, architectural, artistic and religious values. Notably, its architectural complex features a unique blend of traditional Eastern architecture and Western architectural elements. Prominent structures include the Cuu Pham Lien Hoa Tower, the main pagoda, the three-entrance gate and the Kim Chung Bao Cac bell tower, alongside a system of Buddha statues, stone steles and valuable artefacts that give the relic its distinctive character.

Beyond its significance as a sacred Buddhist site, Co Le Pagoda is also a landmark of the revolutionary movement. On February 27, 1947, a ceremony was held there in which 27 Buddhist monks vowed to lay aside their robes and join the resistance war to defend the Fatherland. The event stands as a notable symbol of patriotism and the longstanding bond between Buddhism and the nation.

In recognition of its outstanding values, Co Le Pagoda was recognised as a national historical and cultural relic in 1988 and upgraded to a special national relic in 2025.

The Co Le Pagoda Traditional Festival is held annually from the 12th - 16th day of the 9th lunar month to commemorate Saint Nguyen Minh Khong. It has also been included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The festival features a range of traditional rituals, including palanquin processions, incense-offering ceremonies, Buddhist worship and ceremonies in honour of the Saint.

Festive activities include cultural and artistic performances such as water puppetry, chau van ritual singing, cheo traditional opera, festival drumming, quan ho folk singing, amateur arts performances and lion and dragon dances. Visitors can also enjoy sports competitions and folk games, including traditional boat racing on the Co Le Cat Chu River, Chinese chess and women's volleyball.

The annual event provides an opportunity for local residents to pay tribute to Saint Nguyen Minh Khong, while offering prayers for national peace and prosperity and a prosperous, happy life for all./.