The festival will re-enact the Tế Thiên ceremony, which is a prayer for peace and prosperity, a battle on the Sào Khê River, and the teenage years of Emperor Đinh Bộ Lĩnh.
1050 actors and actresses will perform to celebrate the 1050th anniversary of Đại Cồ Việt, the first independent nation of Vietnamese people. On April 25th, the organizing committee will set up a another ritual at Bái Đính Pagoda.
Dinh Bo Linh (968-979) was a national hero who defeated 12 warlords to unite the country, afterwards declaring himself King Dinh Tien Hoang. He chose Hoa Lu in modern-day Ninh Binh province as the capital and named the country Dai Co Viet (Great Viet). It was the first feudal state of Vietnam which existed from 968 to 1010 AD. The ancient capital was also the native land of three royal dynasties: the Dinh, the early Le and the Ly. Hoa Lu was the first capital of the country until King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long (now Hanoi) in 1010.
