Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival is a traditional festival held every year on the occasion of the third lunar month, to commemorate the golden milestone in the history of nation building and defense, most notably the great merits of King Dinh Tien Hoang, King Le Dai Hanh and their ancestors established Dai Co Viet - the first centralized feudal state in Vietnam.
This year, the Hoa Lu Festival in 2023 will be held in 3 days, from April 28, 2023 to April 30, 2023 (ie, the 9th to 11th day of the third lunar month). Particularly, the ceremony to pray for national peace and prosperity and the Lantern Festival will take place on April 25, 2023 (ie, March 6 of the lunar calendar); The opening ceremony of the temple took place on the morning of April 27, 2023 (ie the 8th day of the third lunar month). The festival is held at the special National Monument of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital (Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province).
The unique feature of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival is the harmonious combination of three historical - cultural - spiritual factors. With 2 parts Ceremony and Festival with many unique rituals and rich content, Hoa Lu festival promises to bring visitors many activities imbued with traditional national culture and characteristics of Hoa Lu ancient capital.
The ceremony was dignified, with traditional rituals, honoring and grateful for the merits of the Emperors and predecessors who had built and defended the country, expressing the wishes of the people to pray for Quoc Thai. People's peace, favorable rain and wind, lush trees, bountiful crops are expressed through the following rituals: Opening ceremony of the temple door, offering incense, water procession, palanquin procession, praying for supplications, and festivals of lanterns, thanksgiving ceremonies, etc.
The festival part includes cultural activities, sports and folk games such as exhibitions, human chess, cock fighting, archery, crossbow shooting, performances of drums and gongs, water puppetry, and organization of festivals. sports tournaments, national wrestling tournaments, camps, etc.
Not only is it a traditional beauty, but Hoa Lu festival is also an opportunity to arouse patriotic tradition and the spirit of great solidarity of the Vietnamese peoples in the cause of national construction and defense and international integration; is one of the activities to preserve and promote the historical and cultural values of the nation; thereby promoting tourism potentials and strengths, propagating about famous scenic spots along with the friendliness and hospitality of the land and people of the ancient capital Hoa Lu - Ninh Binh.