The festival, held from April 24-26, commemorates Buddhist monk Tu Dao Hanh, a famous monk during the Ly dynasty.
The Thay Pagoda was built more than 1,000 years ago, experiencing historical changes and several restorations and embellishments, the pagoda still retains its unique artistic architecture, with a typical system of statues.
Thay Pagoda is also a landscape and a tourist attraction. The pagoda still preserves many precious antiques, such as the lotus stone pedestal of the Ly dynasty, the back of the throne of the 16th century, the incense altar of the Le dynasty, the bronze bell of the Tay Son period, Buddha statues and others.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of Quoc Oai District People's Committee Hoang Nguyen Ung said, the Thay Pagoda Festival has been well known since ancient times and the pagoda welcomes tens of thousands of visitors from across the country every year.
A water puppet show to be performanced
The festival will feature ceremonies, religious rites, a procession, folk games, folk dances and singing, water puppet shows, gong performances and others, in a bid to preserve and promote the value of the Thay Pagoda, Ung noted.
