2025 Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival opens
In the sacred atmosphere of Kiep Bac temple, the opening night of the 2025 Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival was illuminated by the spiritual essence of the nation.
Hai Phong city solemnly held a ceremony at Kiep Bac temple relic site in Tran Hung Dao ward on the evening of October 12 to mark the 725th death anniversary of National Hero Tran Hung Dao, officially open the 2025 Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival, and announce the outstanding universal values of Hai Phong’s world cultural heritage complex, a highlight in the city’s series of unique cultural and spiritual events in this sacred land of heritage.
Tran Thanh Man, Politburo Member and Chairman of the National Assembly, attended the ceremony, along with Central Party Committee Members Mai Van Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister, Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Society, and Dao Hong Lan, Minister of Health; leaders of ministries, Central agencies, provinces, cities, armed forces, and enterprises; ambassadors of several countries in Vietnam; representatives from Hai Phong’s international partnered and twinned localities; and delegates from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, among others.
The event was broadcast live on the radio, television, and digital platforms of the Hai Phong Newspaper and Radio-Television Station.
Delivering the keynote speech, Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Le Ngoc Chau emphasized that the ceremony was an occasion for the city Party, government, and people to pay tribute to Tran Hung Dao, a national hero and military genius who led the Dai Viet (former name of Vietnam) army and people to defeat the Mongol invaders, while also expressing deep gratitude to generations of predecessors who built and defended the nation.
Chau noted that over the past two years, Hai Phong has had two sites inscribed by UNESCO as World Natural and Cultural Heritage. This is not only a source of pride but also a profound responsibility in preserving, restoring, and promoting heritage values.
At this year’s Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival, Hai Phong formally announced the heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, offering residents, visitors, and international friends new opportunities to explore and experience the distinctive cultural and historical identity of the city, a convergence of heritage excellence.
Chairman Le Ngoc Chau emphasized that the city hopes each investor will act as a “talented architect,” bringing passion and creativity to enhance the value of the heritage region; each tourism and service enterprise will become a “tour designer,” linking heritage sites, craft villages, and signature culinary offerings; and every local resident will serve as a “communication ambassador,” spreading messages about service quality, green tourism, and civilized travel practices.
Tran Thanh Man, Politburo Member and Chairman of the National Assembly, ceremoniously beat the drum to kick off the festival, opening a season of celebration filled with faith, pride, and aspiration.
A highlight of the opening night was the special art program “Hai Phong – The Essence of the Heritage Land.” The show, comprising four segments, blended singing, dancing, theatrical performance, digital art, and visual projection, recreating the continuous cultural flow across centuries.
rom the night onward, the thousand-year values of the Con Son – Kiep Bac region will continue to shine, serving as a convergent point of cultural, historical, and spiritual essence nationwide, contributing to shaping Hai Phong’s new identity in the era of integration and development.
HAI HAU – THANH CHUNG – TRUNG KIEN