On the morning of November 2, 2025 (the 13th day of the ninth lunar month, Year of the Snake), a solemn ceremony was held in Co Le Commune, Ninh Binh Province, to celebrate the recognition of Co Le Pagoda as a National Special Relic Site and to inaugurate the traditional Co Le Pagoda Festival.
The event was attended by Dang Xuan Phong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Head of the Provincial Delegation of the National Assembly; Le Hai Binh, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Standing Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Dinh Thi Lua, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Le Quoc Chinh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council; Pham Quang Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; and Mai Van Tuat, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ninh Binh Province. Also in attendance were representatives of provincial departments, agencies, mass organizations, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Ninh Binh, together with a large number of monks, nuns, Buddhists, local residents, and visitors.
At the ceremony, Le Hai Binh, Standing Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the Certificate of National Special Relic Site to the Party Committee, authorities, and people of Co Le Commune. Following the formal proceedings, the Most Venerable monks of Co Le Pagoda performed the traditional drum-beating ritual to mark the opening of the festival, offered incense, and carried the certificate into the main hall of the pagoda.