(VOVWORLD) -Tens of thousands of locals and tourists have been flocking to the National Special Historical Site in Huong Son commune, Ha Tinh province, for a festival in honor of Hai Thuong Lan Ong, a renowned physician and a world cultural figure.
 A ritual is performed at the Hai Thuong Lan Ong Le Huu Trac temple in Son Giang commune, Ha Tinh province. Photo: Huu Quyet/VNA |
The festival commemorates the 235th anniversary of his death and expresses gratitude for the great contributions of the great physician.
This year's festival harmoniously combined solemn ceremonies with rich festivities. Traditional rituals, such as the tomb worship ceremony, the procession, and the health prayer ceremony, were meticulously performed, attracting special attention from the community. The Festival will continue until Tuesday, the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Hai Thuong Lan Ong whose real name is Le Huu Trac was born in 1724 into a scholarly family in Lieu Xa village, Hai Duong province, now Nguyen Van Linh commune, Hung Yen province. Although born in Hung Yen, Le Huu Trac spent most of his life living and treating patients in his mother's hometown of Son Giang, Ha Tinh province.
He developed Vietnamese traditional medicine, integrating rich folk experience with systematic theory and practice. His most important work, Hai Thuong y tong tam linh, is an encyclopedic collection of books, considered the most comprehensive legacy of Vietnamese traditional medicine.
He died in 1791. For his immense contributions, he was honored as the Great Master of Medicine of Vietnam.