Trang An Festival is a journey to sacred land of heritage

Trang An is known as a land tied to pivotal milestones in Vietnamese history. From King Dinh Tien Hoang inheriting the nation from the Hung Kings to preserve independence and unify the land, to King Le’s resistance against the Song and pacification of Champa, to King Tran Thai Tong establishing Vu Lam Palace during the war against the Mongol Yuan and Emperor Quang Trung–Nguyen Hue’s rapid march to Thang Long to decisively defeat the Qing army.

Held annually in the third lunar month at Trang An Ecotourism Area, Hoa Lu City, Ninh Binh Province, the Trang An Festival is a tribute and expression of gratitude to deities, emperors and ancestors for their contributions to building and defending the nation, and for blessing the country with peace, prosperity and harmony.

Over the years, the festival has been organised on a large scale with various traditional rituals, including dragon processions, palanquin processions, and water processions on the Sao Khe River. There are also incense offerings at Suoi Tien Temple, along with vibrant cultural performances from across the country presented by hundreds of artists and performers on live-action stages across the heritage area.

In 2025, under the theme “Trang An – Millennia-old heritage, sacred soul of rivers and mountains”, the festival continues to honour the deep historical and enduring values of the Trang An Landscape Complex. It awakens revolutionary traditions and national pride across generations, while highlighting the historical, cultural, and spiritual identity of an ancient capital nestled within a World Heritage Site, attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

As a member of the dragon procession team, Mr Pham Quoc Chieu from Khanh Hoa Commune, Yen Khanh District, Ninh Binh Province, shared with enthusiasm that organising the dragon procession from Tam Quan Gate to Trang An boat wharf is a recent addition to the festival that enhances its connection and appeal to tourists. It also provides an opportunity for the local community to demonstrate unity, solidarity, and shared pride in the festival and the Trang An heritage.

Locals and visitors are immersed in the traditional cultural atmosphere of the festival.

The Trang An Festival is also known as the “Forest Opening Ceremony”, associated with the globally recognised values of the Trang An Landscape Complex, which was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2014. The ceremony conveys messages about forest protection, ecosystem conservation and sustainable development.

Tran Bich Thuy from Thanh Hoa Province said: “Attending the festival, I was not only immersed in vibrant and colourful celebrations but also visited historical relics and scenic spots such as Trinh Temple, dedicated to two generals of the Dinh dynasty, Vu Lam Palace, Cao Son Temple, and Suoi Tien Temple. I also enjoyed the wonderful cultural performances. Furthermore, the locals, boatmen and service staff here were very friendly and hospitable, helping me understand the unique historical and cultural values of Trang An.”

Taking place amid crystal-clear waterways, shimmering caves and majestic mountains, the Trang An Festival is one of Ninh Binh's most distinctive traditional festivals, featuring a rich array of cultural activities.

Today, Trang An is one of only 40 mixed heritage sites among over 1,220 UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally. This highlights the distinct stature and value of this site, not only regionally but worldwide. Notably, the brand value of Trang An has recently been estimated by local and international experts and scientists at 213 billion USD – a testament to the abundance bestowed by nature and history. It also demonstrates the site's powerful appeal and development potential, not only as a heritage but also in terms of economy, tourism and national branding.

Associate Professor, Dr Pham Van Bai, former Director of the Cultural Heritage Department of Vietnam, affirmed that Ninh Binh has implemented a highly effective and successful public-private partnership model in managing and exploiting the Trang An Heritage responsibly, especially in tourism. Furthermore, the local community has been entrusted with professionally and methodically organising the festivals, helping to spread, preserve, and promote the heritage, drawing large numbers of visitors. The Trang An Festival in particular stands out as a cultural highlight that, when combined with heritage, forms an attractive and diverse tourism product for Ninh Binh.

The festival plays an important role in linking responsible heritage conservation and exploitation in Ninh Binh.

According to Mr Pham Quang Ngoc, Chairman of Ninh Binh People's Committee, the province is one of the pioneers in realising a “heritage economy,” spreading the world brand of the Trang An mixed heritage. This effort helps Ninh Binh fully and accurately assess the economic and branding value of a mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Site in Vietnam. It also gradually lays the scientific and practical foundation for studying the economic and brand value of World Heritage Sites in Vietnam and globally.

Many traditional art programmes from different regions of the country are performed at the festival.

Trang An Festival is a major event that significantly promotes and showcases the unique, attractive, and globally outstanding tourism resources of Ninh Binh, particularly the Trang An Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site. It is also an opportunity for the younger generation to better understand and appreciate the precious traditional cultural values of the Vietnamese people.

The success of Trang An Festival 2025 once again affirms Ninh Binh’s commitment to preserving and promoting heritage in line with the spirit of the 1972 World Heritage Convention.