Con Son stream revives during spring festival season
Con Son–Kiep Bac Heritage Site has drawn large crowds during the 2026 Spring Festival, with Con Son Stream emerging as one of the most captivating attractions.
A renewed landscape
After offering prayers for peace and good fortune at local pagodas, visitors explore the heritage site in their own way, through cultural activities, heritage exploration or quiet contemplation amid its scenic surroundings. This year, many have been drawn to the revived Con Son Stream.
Hoang Thi Huong, from Mao Khe Ward in Quang Ninh Province, has joined the Con Son–Kiep Bac Spring Festival several times. She said she had never before seen the stream in such full flow in spring.
“Con Son Stream is at its most beautiful when it is in full flow, but in previous years it typically ran only during the summer. This year, however, it has been running strongly even in spring, drawing excitement and curiosity from visitors.”
According to local elders, the stream’s vibrant flow today is reminiscent of nearly half a century ago. Dinh Thi Lien, a tour guide at the Con Son–Kiep Bac Heritage Site. She said that, even after many years working there, hearing the water flow again stir her heart.
Nguyen Van Cuong, Deputy Head of the site’s Management Board, described the revival of the stream as the result of a restoration project launched in December 2025. About 90% of the project has been completed, with full restoration expected by March 2026.
Rich in cultural and spiritual value
Con Son Stream originates from the Ngu Nhac and Con Son mountain ranges, stretching roughly three to five kilometers before flowing into Con Son Lake.
Ngu Nhac Mountain, symbolizing the five cardinal directions, has long been regarded as sacred land, a place associated with deities and spiritual guardians believed to govern fortune, destiny and the natural world. Water flowing from this source is considered precious, bringing vitality to the entire region.
The stream is also closely linked to prominent historical and cultural celebrities, including Tran Nguyen Dan, Nguyen Trai, Cao Ba Quat, and President Ho Chi Minh.
Historically, the stream flowed year-round. In recent decades, however, geological and environmental changes resulted in reduced water flow, preventing the stream from flowing year-round.
Before the merger, Hai Duong Province worked with the Ministry of Science and Technology to organize scientific seminars on solutions to restore water supply to the stream within the Nguyen Trai Temple complex. Experts underscored both the importance and urgency of reviving its natural flow.
As a sacred and symbolic feature of the heritage site, maintaining the stream’s vitality carries significant spiritual and cultural meaning, while also preserving the landscape of this historic complex.
Hai Phong News