The Con Son-Kiep Bac Autumn Festival in Hai Duong Province is one of the biggest and most important annual celebrations in North Vietnam which honors Tran Quoc Tuan, also known as Tran Hung Dao, considered a hero for playing a significant role in the country’s triumph over the Mongolians in the 13th century. Dao passed away on the 20th day of the eight lunar month in 1300. The festival is a 5-day celebration from September 8-13 from the 15th to the 20th day of the eighth lunar month.
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Con Son-Kiep Bac served as a line of defense in the 13th century to protect the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. It was also the site of the war between the Tran Dynasty (1226-1400) and the Yuan-Mongol attackers. One of Vietnam’s most popular poets and writers Nguyen Trai, also called the “Great Man of Culture of the World” (1380-1442), hailed from Con Son. Because of its historical and cultural richness, Con Son-Kiep Bac was named a National Heritage in 1962 and a Special National Heritage in 2012. The Con Son-Kiep Bac spring and autumn festivals were also recognized as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.
This year’s festivities include such activities as seal opening ceremony (at the Kiep Bac Temple); peace-praying ceremony; ritual procession; hero commemoration (in Mam Xoi Mount); water puppetry; wrestling and rice cooking contests; boat races. The festival will be held at the Con Son-Kiep Bac relic site and is expected to be participated in by many locals and foreign tourists alike.