Ninh Binh province to host seven major festivals in 2026

1. Doi Son “Tich dien” (ploughing) Festival

The Ploughing Festival is held annually from the fifth to the seventh day of the first lunar month in Tien Son ward (former Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province).

It is a traditional agriculture festival that honours the role of farmers and pray for favourable weather and good crops.

It has been recognised as national intangible cultural heritage since 2017.

2. Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival

The Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival opens on the sixth day of the first lunar month and lasts until the end of the third lunar month annually at Bai Dinh cultural and spiritual area.

The festival is held to pay respect to Saint Nguyen Minh Khong, Mountain God, and the Mother Goddess of the Forest.

The Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival is a unique spring festival and a magnet for pilgrims and tourists alike.

3. Tam Chuc Pagoda Festival

Tam Chuc Pagoda Festival is held annually on the 12th day of the first lunar month at Tam Chuc tourist area in Kim Bang ward.

The festival is characterised with the national cultural identity and combines harmonically Buddha’s religion and Vietnamese traditional values.

The festival pays respect to the Buddha, and prays for peace, favourable weather and good harvests.

It is an important cultural and religious event providing visitors with a better understanding of festival activities while promoting efforts to preserve traditional cultural values in the locality.

4. Tran Temple Seal Opening Ceremony

The Tran Temple Seal Opening Ceremony in Nam Dinh is held annually on the 14th day of the first lunar month at Tran Temple to reenact the royal court ceremony - the bestowal of the royal seal from the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400).

The Tran Temple Seal Opening Ceremony is held with the meaning of spreading the "heroic spirit of Dong A"; praying for national peace and prosperity, favourable weather, and for everyone to share in the blessings of the seal, accumulating boundless good fortune.

5. Tran Thuong Temple Rice Distribution Ceremony

The Tran Thuong Temple Rice Distribution Ceremony is one of the country's major festivals, held on the 14th day of the first lunar month in Tran Thuong commune.

The festival is held to commemorate the great contributions of the national hero, General Tran Quoc Tuan, who defeated the Mongol invaders in the 13th century.

The festival takes place at the main temple, which was chosen by General Tran Quoc Tuan as a granary to supply provisions to the army during the resistance against the Mongol invaders.

This is a meaningful occasion for people to remember the contributions of the national hero and to pray for a bountiful harvest and national peace and prosperity.

6. Phu Day Festival

The Phu Day Festival is held on April 11th (the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month) at the Phu Day Historical and Cultural Relic Site in Vu Ban commune to honor the merits of Saint Mother Lieu Hanh.

The Phu Day Festival is one of the five major traditional religious festivals in the country, associated with the legend of Saint Mother Lieu Hanh - one of the "Four Immortals" of Vietnamese folk beliefs.

The Phu Day Festival and the Chau Van ritual of the Vietnamese people have been included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the "Practices of the Tam Phu Mother Goddess Worship of the Vietnamese People" has been inscribed by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

7. Hoa Lu Festival

The Hoa Lu Festival is held annually from the 9th to the 11th day of the third lunar month at the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Special National Monument Area, Tay Hoa Lu ward.

The Hoa Lu Festival a national intangible cultural heritage is organised to commemorate and express gratitude for the great contributions of Dinh Bo Linh who defeated the 12 warlords, unified the country, and established the Dai Co Viet state the first centralized feudal state of the nation.

Along with the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, the Hoa Lu Festival is one of the important parts of the Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site./.