1. Introduction to Hoa Lu Festival
Hoa Lu Festival (also formerly known as Truong Yen Festival or “Co Lau Festival”) is one of the oldest traditional festivals of Vietnam, associated with the Ancient Capital Hoa Lu - the first capital of our country under the Dinh Tien Hoang dynasty and subsequent dynasties.
Hoa Lu Festival – a long-standing cultural event recreating the heroic spirit of Dai Co Viet, honoring Dinh Tien Hoang and the ancient kings in the ancient capital of Ninh Binh. (Source: Collected)
The original function of the festival was to commemorate the merits of nation-building and defense of the ancient kings, especially Dinh Tien Hoang, who unified the country, proclaimed himself Emperor, opening the period of centralized feudalism under the Dai Co Viet dynasty.
Over centuries, l Hoa Lu Festival has become a sacred occasion for the Vietnamese community to remember their roots, express gratitude to their ancestors, educate patriotism and national pride. The rituals and cultural activities in the festival contribute to preserving and conserving the cultural, historical, and religious values of the Vietnamese nation.
Hoa Lu Festival has also been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, playing an important role in the system of traditional Vietnamese festivals. The preservation and maintenanc e l Hoa Lu Festival helps maintain the continuous flow of culture and history, creating a connection between the past - present - future, affirming the value of the ancient capital Hoa Lu in the national cultural life.
2. Main activities at the Hoa Lu Festival
2.1. Traditional rituals
Traditional rituals fully recreate the ceremonies of the Co Viet Dynasty. (Source: Collection)
Hoa Lu Festival is one of the most ritualistically rich festivals in Vietnam, fully recreating ancient court rituals to honor the Dinh and Tien Le dynasties.
Opening Ceremony: The opening ceremony is held at Dinh Tien Hoang De Square, kicking off a series of key cultural and spiritual events in Ninh Binh. The ceremony was attended by provincial leaders, local residents, and a large number of visitors from all over.
Main Ritual System (may vary by year but always maintains the traditional structure):
Temple Opening Ceremony: the initial ritual, symbolizing the opening of the way to commemorate King Dinh Tien Hoang and the ancestors.
Water Procession Ceremony: a procession fetches water from the Hoang Long River, symbolizing the nation's source of life and prosperity.
Bathing Ceremony: the ritual of bathing the statue of King Dinh, symbolizing purification and showing reverence.
Incense Offering Ceremony: representatives, locals, and visitors offer incense to commemorate the merits of Dinh Tien Hoang in unifying the country.
Procession of Palanquins and Offering Ceremony: palanquins are carried through the routes in the relic area, offerings consist of traditional gifts presented to the former kings.
Thuong Long Ritual: a unique feature of the Hoa Lu Festival, expressing prayers for favorable weather.
Cuu Khuc Sacrifice and sacrifices by the male officials, female officials, and young officials' delegations: these are sacrificial rituals according to ancient protocols, recreating the traditions of the Co Viet court.
Prayer for National Peace and People's Well-being Ceremony: praying for peace in the country and happiness for the people.
Lantern Festival: hundreds of flower lanterns are released onto the river, creating a sacred and symbolic scene.
Gratitude Ceremony: the ritual concluding the festival, expressing gratitude to the deities and the kings of the ancient capital Hoa Lu.
This system of rituals contributes to affirming the cultural depth of the Hoa Lu Festival, while playing an important role in educating traditions and preserving national identity.
2.2. Cultural and Entertainment Activities at the Festival
Besides the solemn ceremony part, the festival part of the Hoa Lu Festival is extremely vibrant, recreating the traditional cultural and festival life of the Vietnamese people.
The festival part of the Hoa Lu Festival is very vibrant, recreating the traditional cultural life of Vietnamese people. (Source: Collected)
Annually, the opening ceremony usually features a large-scale art program, recreating important historical milestones of the Dinh Dynasty, Tien Le Dynasty, and the Co Viet Dynasty. These programs involve many professional artists and actors, combining sound – lighting – modern stage effects to create a magnificent performance space.
At the historical site, many folk games are regularly organized: archery, ball throwing, tug of war, human chess, wrestling, community activities games,... These games not only create a lively festival atmosphere but also contribute to restoring the ancient cultural life of the Hoa Lu residents.
Within the framework of the festival, Ninh Binh organizes many exhibition and product introduction spaces such as the OCOP product introduction area, handicraft village stalls, cultural market fair with folk cuisine and traditional products, and tourism promotion programs connecting businesses and tourists.
Especially from 2024, the Hoa Lu Festival is linked with the Ninh Binh Festival, helping to elevate the event, expand international exchange, and integrate the image of the Hoa Lu ancient capital heritage into the province's cultural and tourism activities.
3. Visitor Experiences at the Hoa Lu Festival
3.1. Visitor Numbers and Tourism Impact
The Hoa Lu Festival is one of the most attractive cultural events in Ninh Binh. During the festival period from April 6 to 8, 2025, statistics from the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism show that the Hoa Lu area welcomed approximately 164,270 visitors, including 52,700 international visitors. This is an impressive figure, reflecting the strong influence of the festival on the local tourism landscape.
Opening ceremony kicks off the biggest cultural event series of the year in Ninh Binh. (Source: Collected)
Total tourism revenue is estimated at around 300 billion VND, showing that the Hoa Lu Festival not only carries cultural - historical significance but also contributes importantly to economic development, especially the service and accommodation sectors. According to the report, hotel occupancy rates in the area reached an average of 80 to 90 percent, with many hotels and homestays around the ancient capital fully booked during the festival.
These figures affirm the position of the Hoa Lu Festival as a key tourism highlight of Ninh Binh, contributing to promoting the image of the ancient capital to domestic and international communities.
3.2. Special experiences visitors should try
Visitors attending the Hoa Lu Festival have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a vibrant, culturally rich historical space. Some typical experiences include:
Participating in traditional ceremonies: Visitors can watch or directly participate in ceremonies such as the opening ceremony, incense offering, water procession, bathing rituals... Through this, visitors can clearly feel the depth of Dai Co Viet culture and the spirit of gratitude towards the ancient kings.
Participating in parades, palanquin processions, or water processions: This is a highly communal activity, connecting local people and tourists. Participating in the palanquin procession helps visitors experience the true festival atmosphere, as if returning to Hoa Lu a thousand years ago.
Visiting ancient costume exhibitions and watching art performances: Exhibition spaces displaying ancient costumes, weapons, musical instruments, and replicas of the royal attire of the Dinh and Tien Le dynasties are organized throughout the festival. Along with that are historical reenactment programs, traditional and contemporary art performances, vividly recreating the Dai Co Viet period.
Exploring the Hoa Lu ancient capital relic site: After participating in the festival, visitors can visit important relics such as Dinh Tien Hoang Temple, Le Dai Hanh Temple, East Gate, Ma Yen Mountain, places associated with many historical imprints. The ancient atmosphere and picturesque landscape make the trip more complete.
These experiences make the Hoa Lu Festival not just a simple cultural event but also a journey to return to historical roots, bringing deep emotions to all visitors.
Experience journeys that take visitors back to Hoa Lu thousands of years ago. (Source: Collected)
4. Notes for attending
To make your journey to the Hoa Lu festival smoother and more complete, visitors should remember some important notes below:
Maintain tourism civilization: Visitors must comply with the regulations at the historical site, maintain order in the ceremony area, and not litter. Protecting the environment, especially the sacred space of the ancient capital Hoa Lu, contributes to preserving the beautiful image of the festival.
Check information before going: The festival has many rituals and cultural activities taking place according to specific time slots. Visitors should follow the official schedule, visitor ticket information, or parade routes to manage their time proactively.
Book hotels and restaurants in advance during peak season: The Hoa Lu festival often coincides with Ninh Binh welcoming a large number of visitors. If you plan to attend the festival during the main festival period, you should book hotels and restaurants in advance to avoid overcrowding.
Appropriate attire when entering temples and historical sites: When participating in offering incense or visiting temples such as Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and Le Dai Hanh Temple, visitors should wear polite and modest attire to show respect for the sacred space.
Sun World Ha Nam offers a completely new experience. (Source: Collected)
After attending the Hoa Lư Festival and exploring the historical relics in the ancient capital, visitors can combine entertainment and relaxation at Sun World Ha Nam, just under an hour's drive from the center of Ninh Binh province. This modern entertainment complex offers a completely new experience with a water puppetry theme, family entertainment activities, and a play space suitable for all ages. It is an ideal stop to conclude the exploration journey of the land of Hoa Lư in a gentler and more complete way.
The Hoa Lư Festival is not only a major cultural event of Ninh Binh province but also a journey back to the historical roots of Dai Co Viet. With its traditional ritual system, unique cultural activities, and the sacred atmosphere at the ancient capital relic site, the festival offers visitors a profound experience of national culture and spirit.
