Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation, Pham Minh Chinh, attended the ceremony and beat the drum to open the festival.
The annual event aims to commemorate and honour the merit of national hero Dinh Bo Linh (924-979), who defeated 12 warlords to unite the country, afterwards declaring himself Emperor Dinh Tien Hoang and naming the country Dai Co Viet (Great Viet) - the first centralised feudal state in Vietnam.
The traditional festival has a great influence on the preservation of unique cultural values and folk arts, and has become quintessential in the spiritual and cultural activities of local people in the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital area.
Running until April 15, the event features various activities, including a water procession ceremony, incense offering, a palanquin procession, praying for the nation’s prosperities and security, boat racing, cultural exchanges, folk games and a photo exhibition, as well as a fair on handicrafts and special products of Ninh Binh.
