Đồng Cổ Temple Festival 2025

Vietnam, with its rich history and vibrant cultural tapestry, hosts a multitude of festivals that reflect the deep-rooted traditions and values of its people. One such significant celebration is the Đồng Cổ Temple Festival, an event that not only commemorates a historic tale but also serves as a platform for cultural preservation and the reinforcement of national identity.

Đồng Cổ Temple Festival 2025

Discover the allure of the Đồng Cổ Temple Festival and delve into this profound cultural tapestry and traditions of the community.

The ancient narrative of the celebration

According to classic reference, during the time when Lý Thái Tông was still a prince, he received a royal order from his father, King Lý Thái Tổ, to lead an army against Chiêm Thành in 1020. While stationed in Trường Châu, Prince Lý Thái Tông had a prophetic dream where the mountain deity Đồng Cổ expressed a desire to assist in the battle against the southern enemy.

True to his dream, the next day, the army achieved a resounding victory. In gratitude, Prince Lý Thái Tông constructed a temple to honor the deity. The temple's location, as guided by the deity in a subsequent dream, is called “Đồng Cổ” Temple nowaday.

Đồng Cổ Temple was built according to the guide by the deity in Prince Lý Thái Tông’s dream

Đồng Cổ Temple witnessed crucial ceremonies of various feudal dynasties in Vietnamese history. Among them was the tradition of officials pledging loyalty to the nation. Annually, on the April 4th day lunar month, mandarins gathered outside the city gates, and the king resided at Hữu Lang Gate. After performing ceremonial rituals, mandarins collectively pledged allegiance, promising to serve the country faithfully. Those who violated this oath were believed to incur divine punishment.

The temple witnessed crucial ceremonies of various feudal dynasties in Vietnamese history

The occurrence date of festival

The Đồng Cổ Temple Festival takes place on the 4th day of the fourth lunar month every year in Đông Xã village, Tây Hồ district, Hanoi. This unique festival holds great significance in imparting moral values to the younger generations. To this day, the festival maintains the tradition of the officials' loyalty pledge. Participation extends beyond the local populace, attracting numerous tourists.

Additionally, the roots of the Đồng Cổ Temple can be traced back to the year 1028 during the reign of the Lý Dynasty. Therefore, Đồng Cổ Temple received recognition as a national historical relic by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture and Information on January 31, 1992. 

This unique festival holds great significance in imparting moral values to Hanoi city

Special activities at the festival

In the morning, residents hailing from Bưởi ward in the Tây Hồ district of Hanoi come together at the sacred grounds of Đồng Cổ Temple (353 Thụy Khuê, Tây Hồ, Hanoi), where the air is filled with anticipation for the festival. The highlight of this gathering is the profound loyalty pledge ceremony, a solemn and revered event that draws participants to express their devotion to tradition and the nation.

The event kicks off with the Đông village drummers inaugurating the loyalty pledge ceremony. Participants reenact historical loyalty pledges amidst the divine ambiance surrounding Đồng Cổ Temple. The procession involves locals approaching the temple's altar, kneeling, and reciting pledges of loyalty and dedication to the nation. The ceremony concludes with reverence for the deity.

Residents from Bưởi ward gather at Đồng Cổ Temple to participate in the solemn loyalty pledge ceremony

As evening descends, attendees gather at the stage to enjoy a diverse cultural program. This program seamlessly blends music, dance, historical drama, and traditional performances such as Xẩm singing, Chèo singing, folk opera, drum dancing, and dragon parades. These elements weave together to narrate the detailed story of Đồng Cổ Temple, and the historic land of Tây Hồ spanning millennia of cultural heritage.

The special meaning of the festival

The Đồng Cổ Festival, intertwined with the Đồng Drum, symbolizes the material and spiritual strength of Vietnam's ancient traditions. The loyalty pledge ceremony, a unique aspect of the festival, holds profound significance in educating moral values and deep-rooted traditions.

The Đồng Cổ Festival symbolizes the material and spiritual strength of Vietnam's ancient traditions

Organizing the loyalty pledge ceremony aims to awaken and elevate a sense of pride and national dignity. It serves as an educational tool to impart the historical and cultural legacy of ancestors. This festival also plays a crucial role in conserving and promoting the cultural heritage values associated with the traditional Đồng Cổ Temple festival in Bưởi ward, Tây Hồ district.

The Đồng Cổ Festival will offer an incredible chance for tourists to fully engage in this abundant culture and customs of the local community. Start organizing your Vietnam tour now and become immersed in the lively ambiance of this unique celebration.