HƯNG YÊN — Hưng Yên Province will hold the 2026 Keo Pagoda Autumn Festival from October 19 to 24 at the special national relic site of Keo Pagoda in Vũ Tiên Commune, celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage through traditional rituals, performances and community activities.

Under Plan No 368/KH-UBND recently issued by the provincial People’s Committee, the festival will run for six days, from the 10th to the 15th of the ninth lunar month.

The annual event aims to foster patriotism, national pride and the Vietnamese tradition of gratitude to previous generations, while honouring Saint and Zen Master Không Lộ and other historical figures worshipped at the site.

It also provides a space for local people and visitors to practise and experience cultural, religious and spiritual traditions, while discovering the pagoda’s historical, architectural and artistic values and the customs preserved through generations.

The opening ceremony will begin with an incense-offering ritual, followed by an artistic performance, opening speeches, a ceremonial drum performance and a programme celebrating the festival.

Traditions brought to life

The festival’s ceremonial programme will feature a series of longstanding religious and folk traditions, including the Khai Chỉ ritual marking the opening of the pagoda, a procession honouring Saint Không Lộ, puppet performances in honour of the Saint, a ceremonial land-based boat dance and the traditional frog-catching dance.

Visitors can also attend the lantern-lighting ceremony, observe the Vietnamese tradition of Mother Goddess worship in the Three Realms, and witness ritual offerings conducted by local ceremonial groups, residents and Buddhist followers.

Alongside the religious ceremonies, the festival will feature a lively programme of cultural, artistic and sporting activities, bringing local communities and visitors together.

Highlights include boat trips with traditional singing performances, exchanges among traditional chèo opera clubs, betel-leaf folding demonstrations featuring phoenix-shaped designs, photography and fine-art exhibitions featuring Keo Pagoda, Chinese chess competitions and the 2026 Hưng Yên Province Open Lion and Dragon Dance Tournament.

Together, these activities offer visitors a closer look at the living traditions that shape the province’s cultural identity, bringing together spiritual practices, performing arts and folk recreation in a shared community setting.

The festival also reflects the broader cultural-development vision outlined in the Politburo’s Resolution No 80-NQ/TW, which emphasises the role of culture as an endogenous resource and a driver of sustainable development. By safeguarding traditional practices while creating opportunities for cultural tourism, Hưng Yên aims to ensure that heritage remains a living part of contemporary community life.

Heritage as a driver of tourism

Through the festival, the province seeks to promote the cultural values of Keo Pagoda and introduce visitors to the land and people of Hưng Yên. It also aims to strengthen tourism links and develop cultural tourism products, programmes and tours, helping attract visitors and support local tourism, trade and socio-economic development.

The festival is among the province’s key cultural events, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the special national relic site while providing a focal point for visitors interested in its distinctive heritage.

The provincial People’s Committee has called for all activities to comply with the law and be organised in a practical, safe and economical manner. The programme is expected to balance tradition and modernity while respecting local cultural identity, customs and values.

Measures will be put in place to ensure public security, smooth traffic flow, fire safety, environmental hygiene, disease prevention and food safety throughout the festival. Relevant agencies will coordinate to safeguard the well-being of local residents and visitors.

At a meeting to review preparations, Phạm Văn Nghiêm, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, called on relevant agencies and local authorities to work closely together and carry out their assigned tasks effectively.

The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will work with the event organiser to finalise the opening ceremony’s programme, clearly assign responsibilities and ensure that all logistical arrangements are in place. The department will also step up communications and tourism promotion before, during and after the festival. — VNS