Do Temple Grand Festival Honoring the Ly Dynasty

Schedule: 29 Tháng 4 – 01 Tháng 5, 2026 (14 - 16 tháng 3 Âm lịch) | Location: Vietnam

The Do Temple Grand Festival is one of the most solemn and magnificent dynastic memorial festivals in the Kinh Bac cradle, celebrated annually from the 14th to 16th of the third lunar month in Dinh Bang, Tu Son, Bac Ninh. The festival marks the historic coronation of Emperor Ly Thai To (on the 15th of the 3rd lunar month in 1010) and honors the eight illustrious Ly Dynasty emperors who laid the foundations of Dai Viet's golden imperial civilization. The centerpiece of the festival is a massive ceremonial palanquin procession stretching over several kilometers, transporting ancestral tablets from ancient Dan Pagoda to Do Temple. Involving thousands of participants in full period costumes, the procession faithfully reenacts feudal royal protocols: gilded octagonal palanquins, five-element battle flags, cavalry warriors with shining spears, swirling dragon and lion troupes, and traditional court orchestras performing antique eight-tone melodies. The festival grounds burst with lively traditional folk contests: boat-side Quan Ho singing duets echoing across the crescent Moon Lake, human chess matches played on giant flagstone grids, ancient sandpit wrestling, husband-and-wife cake (banh phu the) wrapping competitions, and the release of peace doves. It stands as an emotional ancestral pilgrimage honoring the legendary decision to establish Hanoi as the eternal capital.