The Trang An Festival is held annually to honor Quy Minh Dai Vuong, one of the revered deities of Vietnamese folk belief. He and his two brothers Tan Vien and Cao Son were canonized as guardian saints. Quy Minh, credited with defending the southern frontier of Hoa Lu, is one of the four sacred guardians of the ancient capital who protected the nation during the reign of the Hung Kings.
The festival is an occasion to commemorate the contributions of past generations, highlight the historical depth and enduring value of the Trang An Landscape Complex, and foster national pride. It also celebrates the unique cultural, historical, and spiritual identity of an ancient capital in a world heritage site.
Festival-goers pray for peace, favorable weather, and abundant harvests, and honor those who contributed to the exploration and protection of this sacred land. These activities acknowledge that humanity must respect, preserve, and live in harmony with nature and make the festival stand out as an ecological celebration, deeply rooted in culture and spirituality while promoting environmental stewardship.
Visitors enjoy an exciting dragon procession that departs from the Trang An boat wharf and glides along waterways framed by majestic limestone mountains to Suoi Tien Temple, where incense, flowers, and offerings are presented in honor of Saint Quy Minh Dai Vuong.
Photographer Nguyen Anh from Ho Chi Minh City said: “I hope to preserve valuable cultural heritage for future generations. I’m finding the festival very well organized. People are happy and enthusiastic. The province learned from last year’s shortcomings and improved the festival, closely linking activities with heritage protection.”
The Trang An Festival is also known as the “Forest Opening Ceremony”. According to local tradition, the forest remains closed throughout the year, and resource exploitation is strictly prohibited. Only on the 17th day of the 3rd lunar month are residents allowed limited, controlled access to the forest. The festival is not just a celebration but a community commitment to live with the heritage, safeguard it, and pass it on to future generations.
