(VOVworld) – The Bai Dinh pagoda festival opens on Wednesday in Ninh Binh province. In the 1,000-year-old pagoda, King Dinh Tien Hoang who reigned in the 10th century established an altar to pray for favorable weather. In the 18th century, King Quang Trung chose this place for a ceremony to encourage soldiers ahead of a historic battle against the Qing invaders.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc beat the drum, opening the festival and praying for peace, happiness and prosperity. The Bai Dinh pagoda festival will last until the 3rd lunar month. Visitors and pilgrims are entertained with local folk performances.
Also on Wednesday, the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda Festival officially opens in My Duc district, Hanoi. Going to Huong Pagoda is a spiritual journey into Buddhist Land – where the Goddess of Mercy leads a religious life.
On the same day, the Soc Son temple festival opens on the outskirts of Hanoi to honor a legendary hero Thanh Giaong, who defeated foreign invaders during the Hung Kings’ dynasty. Nguyen Nam Nho, Director of the Management Board, told VOV: “The festival includes drum performance, folk singing and lion dance. Activities are held in accordance with our traditions. This year’s festival opened earlier than usual, beginning at 7 am”.
In the central province of Thua Thien Hue, there was a wrestling competition of Thu Le village. A fishing festival took place on Wednesday in Phu Loc district to promote the beauty of Lang Co bay.