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Vietnam Travel  > Country and People  > North Cities and Provinces  > Ha Noi Capital  > Cultural Festivals and Travels

Cultural Festivals and Travels

Lang Pagoda Festival

Time: From the 5th to the 7th day of the third lunar month. The main festival day is on the 7th day of the third lunar month.

Place: Lang Thuong Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi.

Objects of worship: Zen Buddhist Tu Dao Hanh.

Characteristics: Saint's palanquin procession along the To Lich River bank.

Lang Pagoda was built in the 12th century under Ly Dynasty. It was located in a rather large scale and in harmonious architecture. The festival opens on the 5th day of the third lunar month with the procession of saint's joss-stick bowl is carried to Nen Pagoda, where according to the legend the saint was born. On the 6th day of the third lunar month, saint's joss-stick bowl is carried to Tam Huyen Pagoda to visit his father. On 7th day of the third lunar month, saint's palanquin procession is carried to Hoa Lang Pagoda to visit his mother. On the way to Hoa Lang Pagoda, the performance of the old tale of "deities fighting" is performed (Tu Dao Hanh's fighting with shaman Dai Dien in Due Pagoda who according to the legend killed Tu Vinh, Tu Dao Hanh's father). After making rituals, at noon the saint's palanquin procession returns to Lang Pagoda. The festival also involves traditional games: swinging, wrestling, chess playing, tuong, cheo singing and worshipping sing.

Le Mat Village Festival

Time: The 23rd day of the third lunar month.

Place: Le Mat Village, Viet Hung Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi.

Objects of worship: The village's tutelary god of Hoang Family.

Characteristics: Snake dance.

Le Mat Village opens the festival to commemorate Hoang Ngoc Trung who had merit of taking poor people from Le Mat Village to the capital city to reclaim the wasteland to set up 13 barracks in the west of Thang Long Citadel (Ba Dinh District now). The festival involves water procession from the village well, carp catching, carps offering to god, feast (offerings) procession of 13 barracks in Ba Dinh District to the village then offer to god. Snake dance, processions of Ga ong (heavy cock), Lon ong (fat pig), contest of speciality cooking includes "Tam xa dai hoi" (3 kinds of snake: copperhead, krait, coluber), "Ngu ho chau lam" (5 frogs feast) and "Ly ngu vong nguyet" (big carps feast, feast of making of raw fish and vegetables).

Le Xa Village Festival

Time: 15th day of the third lunar month.

Place: Le Xa Hamlet, Mai Lam Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi.

Objects of worship: Dao Ky and Phuong Dung (generals of Hai Ba Trung).

Characteristics: Procession, sacrifices, plaiting cord contest, ca trù singing, quan ho singing, duck catching, and cock fighting.