Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival opens

Hai Duong (VNA) - The Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2019 kicked off in the northern province of Hai Duong on September 15 or the 17th day of the eighth lunar month.

The festival aimed to mark the 719th death anniversary of General Tran Hung Dao (or Tran Quoc Tuan), one of the most revered figures in Vietnam’s history.

Under the Tran Dynasty (1225 – 1400), the Supreme Commander led the Dai Viet (Great Vietnam) army to victories over three major Mongolian invasions, making him one of the most accomplished military strategists in the world history. He passed away on the 20th day of the eighth lunar month in 1300 at the age of 70.

The festival featured a range of traditional rituals and cultural activities such as incense-offering ceremonies and military parade with the participation of 1,500 fishermen and martial artists along with around 50 boats on Luc Dau River. The event aims to re-enact the Tran Dynasty army during the three struggles against Mongolian invaders and honour contributions of General Tran Hung Dao.

Covering a total area of eight hectares in Chi Linh district, the Con Son-Kiep Bac historical site is entwined with the lives and causes of Tran Hung Dao and the Great Man of Culture of the World, Nguyen Trai. 

The site was a defence line built at the end of the 13th century to protect the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. It witnessed important battles between the Tran dynasty army and the Yuan-Mongol invaders. 

Con Son, surrounded by pine trees, saw the pure and upright life of Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), one of Vietnam’s most famous poets and writers. 

With its special values, the Con Son – Kiep Bac was recognised as a national heritage site in 1962 and a special national heritage site in 2012. In 2013, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism named the Spring Festival in Con Son Pagoda and the Autumn Festival in Kiep Bac Temple as national intangible cultural heritages./.