Bach Dang festival in Bach Dang Giang relic site, Trang Kenh complex, Minh Duc town, Thuy Nguyen district, Hai Phong city (also known as the battlefield anniversary) is annually organized on the 8th day of the 3rd lunar month. The festive space is solemnly held in such places as Trang Kenh Vong De temple, Trang Kenh Truc Lam pagoda…Organized at the city level, Bach Dang Giang festival takes place with a range of special activities as the incense offering ceremony, sacrifice ceremony, glower garland festival, lion dance, Hai Phong’s open dragon boat racing festival on Bach Dang river… luring a large number of local people and tourists, recalling the glorious feats of arms of the predecessors in the fight against foreign invaders on the historic Bach Dang Giang. In 938, Ngo Quyen defeated the Nam Han army, ending centuries of Chinese imperial domination. In 981, Le Hoan defeated the Song invading army. In 1288, the army and people of Tran dynasty annihilated the mighty naval army of the Mongolian Yuan dynasty. Beside the ritual ceremonies, the festival comprising various entertainment, culture and sports activities with traditional folk games lures the special attendance of people of all social strata. The traditional Bach Dang festival organized annually is an occasion for the local people to pay tribute to the merits of the predecessors who laid down their lives to defend the sacred sovereignty of the country. This is also an important event of the city.
Beside the ebullient ambiance of the Bach Dang festival, the 8th day of the third lunar month is also solemnly taking place the death anniversary of king Le Dai Hanh at Trang Kenh Vong De temple – the worshiping place of the locals. King Le Dai Hanh contributed to the building of the powerful Dai Co Viet in the 10th century, at the same time making the firm economic and cultural foundation for the later dynasties to inherit and formulate the splendid Thang Long culture. Taking part in the annual death anniversary of king Le Dai Hanh, tens of thousands of locals and visitors recall the magnanimous traditions of the nation and the great merits of the king to the history and the country. Besides, the death anniversary is an occasion to disseminate and educate the traditions of patriotism and fighting against the invaders, defending the sovereignty and independence of the country, constructing the country for the today’s generation.
