Scene of the Festival

Delegates attending the Festival

The Festival was attended by Comrade Nguyen Chi Dung, Member of the Central Party Executive Committee, Deputy Prime Minister; leaders of central ministries, boards, sectors, agencies and units; leaders of Military Region 1 and several neighboring provinces.

Delegates respectfully offering incense to commemorate the merits of Emperor Ly Nam De

On the side of Thai Nguyen province, there were the following Comrades: Trinh Xuan Truong, Member of the Central Party Executive Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Vuong Quoc Tuan, Member of the Central Party Executive Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; comrades from the Standing Board of the Provincial Party Committee; former provincial leaders; comrades who are members of the Party Standing Committee; leaders of the Delegation of National Assembly Deputies, the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council, leaders of the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee; leaders of departments, boards, sectors, mass organizations, localities, units, religious organizations, associations, business associations along with a large number of people and tourists from all over the country.

From early morning, the stream of people solemnly conducting the ritual procession and palanquin procession to Ly Nam De Temple

Ly Nam De Temple (Muc Temple) belongs to the Ly Nam De National Historical Site complex (including Muc Temple, Huong Ap Pagoda and Man Tang Pagoda) - one of the important locations associated with identifying the hometown of Emperor Ly Nam De and a place to honor and acknowledge the merits of the first Emperor in national history.

Looking back at the flow of national history, Ly Nam De, whose real name was Ly Bi (503 - 548), was born in Co Phap village, Tien Phong commune, the former Pho Yen city - now part of Van Xuan ward, Thai Nguyen province. In the context of the country being under Northern feudal domination for over a thousand years, in Nham Tuat year (542), Ly Bi gathered heroes, launched an uprising, won resounding victories and swept the Liang invaders out of our country's borders. In Giap Ty year (544), Ly Bi ascended to the throne as Emperor, taking the title Ly Nam De, naming the country Van Xuan, with the reign title Thien Duc; he organized the imperial court with full civil and military ranks, minted his own currency and established the capital at To Lich river estuary. That event not only demonstrated the thinking, strategic vision and bravery of a nation-builder but also marked the first time in national history that an Emperor officially proclaimed himself Emperor, affirming sovereignty, independence and autonomy on par with Northern dynasties. The heroic spirit of Van Xuan has since become an immortal symbol of the indomitable will and the aspiration for the longevity of Vietnamese nation.

Spiritual rituals taking place solemnly, expressing reverence and gratitude to the nation's first Emperor

To commemorate his great merits, the people established Muc Temple to worship Ly Nam De - the first Emperor of the nation. Every year, incense offering and worship rituals are solemnly organized on the Emperor's birth date, death date and coronation date; among them, the 12^th day of the first lunar month is the main festival. In 2014, Huong Ap Pagoda and Muc Temple Historical Sites were ranked as National Historical Sites by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. To preserve and promote the value of the Site, Thai Nguyen province implemented the Project to renovate and embellish Ly Nam De Temple on an area of 7,500 m², with a total budget of over VND 75 billion; the project was inaugurated on November 2, 2024.

Comrade Bui Van Luong, Member of the Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, delivering the opening speech

Delivering the opening speech, Comrade Bui Van Luong, Member of the Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, emphasized: Proud to be the hometown of the first Emperor, the Party organization and people of Thai Nguyen province are always deeply aware of the responsibility to preserve and promote sacred historical values. In recent years, the province has paid attention to leading and directing the conservation, embellishment and promotion of the Site's values. Muc Temple, Huong Ap Pagoda and other works in the Site complex have been and are being invested in to be spacious and imposing, preserving traditional architecture, ensuring solemnity and meeting the religious needs of the people and tourists. The Comrade affirmed that organizing the "Van Xuan Khai Quoc" Festival is not only an annual cultural-spiritual activity but also an occasion for the Party organization, administration and people of all ethnic groups in Thai Nguyen province to express deep gratitude for the great merits of Emperor Ly Nam De; simultaneously concretizing the policy of promoting cultural values and the strength of Thai Nguyen people in the new period. Through the Festival, the province continues to propagate and educate the younger generation on patriotic traditions, the spirit of independence, autonomy and national self-reliance; arousing pride, strengthening the great national unity bloc; and promoting the image of Thai Nguyen homeland - a land of spiritual masterpieces and talented people, rich in revolutionary tradition and rising strongly on the path of industrialization and modernization.

The festival drum performance jubilantly evokes the heroic traditions of the nation

Excerpt from the epic "Ly Nam De" performed by actors of the Vietnam National Traditional Theater

This year's Festival received attention, direction and organization from the province on an appropriate scale, ensuring solemnity, safety, thrift and rich national identity. Taking place over two days, February 27-28 (the 11th and 12th of the first lunar month), the ceremonial part was conducted according to traditional, respectful and solemn rituals including palanquin processions, offerings, incense offerings, oration readings and saint worship... to commemorate the merits of Emperor Ly Nam De, praying for peace for the country and people, prosperity for the nation and a well-fed and happy life for the people. The festival part was diverse with many cultural, artistic, sports activities and unique folk games such as: Festival drums, lion and dragon dances, traditional martial arts performances, Chinese chess competitions, traditional wrestling, stick pushing, tug of war, air volleyball, swinging, blindfolded clay pot breaking, sack jumping..., creating a joyful and excited atmosphere among the people and tourists. Notably, the Cheo play "Nam Viet De - Van Mua Xuan" (Emperor of the South - Ten Thousand Springs) was elaborately staged, vividly recreating the image of the founding Emperor. Additionally, the display area introducing OCOP products and local specialties also attracted a large number of people and tourists to visit and experience.

Sports tournament welcoming the Festival

In a solemn yet bustling atmosphere, the "Van Xuan Khai Quoc" Festival took place safely and thoughtfully, attracting thousands of people and tourists from all over to offer incense and attend the festival.

More than a millennium has passed, but the Spirit of Van Xuan still echoes like a call from history. It is not only a memory of a dynasty that opened an era of independence but also a source of spiritual strength forging the will of self-reliance and the aspiration to rise of the nation. From that sacred source, today and in the future, every citizen of Thai Nguyen in particular and the whole country in general, feels an increased responsibility to preserve sovereignty, cultivate the great unity bloc and join hands to build a homeland and country that is increasingly civilized, wealthy, strong and developed in the new era, so that the Van Xuan spring lasts forever with Vietnamese nation.