The Ngoc Lo palanquin parade returns to Tran temple festival after offering insence at Pho Minh Temple (Source: VNA)
Nam Dinh (VNA) - The Ngoc Lo palanquin parade, one of the most vital rituals of Tran Temple Festival, was held on February ♉18 to pay tribute to ancestors.
The parade takes places on the 11th day of the first lunar month each year.
Nguyen Van Thu, Director of the Nam Dinh Museum, said the palanquin parade started at Pho Minh Pagoda (another name Thap Pagoda), place of worship of Zen master Emperor Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the third ruler of the Tran Dynasty to Thien Truong Temple at Loc Vuong Ward.
“The children of the Tran Dynasty attend the ritual to show gratitude to their ancestors. It is also a symbol of acceptance and reconcilability of all religions and beliefs into one," said Thu, who is also a provincial culture researcher.
Historically, villages surrounding the northern province of Nam Dinh also participated in the festival at ancient Tran Temple. Today, the festival is organised solely by Tuc Mac Village.
Before the parade, a local man brings a bowl of incense from Tran Temple to the palanquin. The parade consists of flags, imperial equipage, an octet (the eight kinds of musical instruments), as well as a group of village patriarchs in brown long dress marching behind and reading mantra.
The parade was restored in 2015 with sufficient preparation for Tran Temple Festival.
According to national cultural researchers, the festival today was fully equipped with traditional rituals, and can be listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.
"The lasting Tran Temple Festival is for commemorating the origin of emperors of the Tran Dynasty and especially national heroes like Supreme Commander Tran Hung Dao, who led the Vietnam armies to repel three major Yuan-Mongol invasions in the 13th century," added Thu.-VNA
A series of vestiges found in the Tran Temple (Thai Lang) and Lang Ngoi ward in Hung Ha district, northern Thai Binh province, has revealed evidence on the position of the Lo Giang royal palace built in the Tran Dynasty in the 13th century.
A ceremony was held on January 21 by the People’s Committee of Hung Ha district in the northern province of Thai Binh to mark the 790 th founding anniversary of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1440).
The Tran Temple Festival, one of the biggest annual spring festivals in Vietnam, will open in the northern province of Thai Binh from the 13th to the 16th of the first lunar month, or February 20-23.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
The Ngoc Lo palanquin parade returns to Tran temple festival after offering insence at Pho Minh Temple (Source: VNA)
