Joyful spring festivals in the countryside
Many traditional village festivals in Hai Phong have been carefully preserved by local residents. Although each place has its own unique characteristics and cultural nuances, they all share a common feature: fostering a strong sense of community and unity.
The cultural soul of the countryside
In Mo Trach Village (Duong An Commune), the traditional festival takes place on the 8th day of the first lunar month, featuring solemn rituals and ceremonial palanquin processions at the village communal house. This land, rich in cultural and scholarly traditions, regards the festival not only as an occasion to commemorate ancestors but also as a reunion day for descendants living far from home.
Festival flags flutter brightly, poinsettias bloom in vivid red, and members of the Vu – Vo lineage return from all over the country to attend the 1,222nd anniversary of the birth of Duc Than To Vu – Vo of Vietnam, expressing pride in their homeland’s long-standing scholarly heritage.
In Vinh Khe Village (An Hai Ward), the traditional wrestling festival was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. With a history of nearly 700 years, the festival has become a vivid symbol of the martial spirit. According to Mr. Vu Van Phu, a village elder, those allowed to enter the wrestling arena must come from families recognized as “cultured families” — a customary rule reflecting the community’s respect for discipline and moral values.
Notably, the “ceremonial opening bout,” performed by senior wrestlers, carries the meaning of wishing for health and peace in the new year. Legend has it that without this match, the villagers’ lives in the coming year might face difficulties. Therefore, the wrestling festival is not merely a sporting competition but also a spiritual ritual that conveys the hopes of the community.
Mr. Tran Van Trong, Deputy Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, said that village festivals are a cultural beauty that should be preserved. They serve as occasions to unite the community, inspire a spirit of returning to one’s roots, and encourage efforts in building the homeland.
At Dai Tra Communal House (Kien Minh Commune), the traditional festival with its vibrant rituals is also maintained annually. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hoi, Deputy Head of the Communal House Management Board, noted that the festival helps foster faith and a strong spiritual and cultural life, especially gaining greater significance after administrative mergers and boundary expansions.
At Cung Chuc Communal House (Vinh Thinh Commune), the traditional festival takes place from December 29 to 31 each year, featuring various rituals such as the enrollment ceremony, saint worship ceremony, palanquin procession, incense offering rites, and thanksgiving ceremony. The festive part includes cultural and artistic performances, folk games, and lively sports competitions, rich in the identity of the Northern Vietnamese countryside. Ms. Doan Thi Nhu, Vice Chairwoman of the Vinh Thinh Commune People’s Committee, said that with the implementation of the two-tier local government model, coordination has become more convenient, and broader communication has helped attract a large number of residents to participate.
Promoting cultural values in the new era
The vibrant atmosphere of rural village festivals demonstrates the enduring vitality of village culture. However, in the context of tourism development and changes in management models, preserving and promoting the value of village festivals requires clear orientation and strategic planning.
According to Mr. Vu Duy Nhu, Vice Chairman of the Duong An Commune People’s Committee, the locality is coordinating with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to develop the Hai Phong Tourism Development Project to 2030, with a vision to 2045. Under this plan, Mo Trach Village is expected to become a destination for spiritual and scholarly tourism. This presents an opportunity for the local festival to be elevated and more widely promoted.
Mr. Do Xuan Trung, Member of the Executive Committee of the Hai Phong Cultural Heritage Association, believes that greater efforts are needed to promote cultural and heritage values through mass media. Local festivals should be developed into experiential spaces where residents and visitors can directly participate in traditional activities.
The core value of village festivals lies first and foremost in the local community. The people are the main actors who organize events, preserve rituals, maintain customs, and protect traditional cultural spaces. Preserving village festivals today is not only about safeguarding a cultural practice, but also about sustaining historical memory and local identity while ensuring that they remain relevant to contemporary life.
Ha Linh - Hoang Phuoc