Tran Temple and Festival

The legend goes it that in 1239, Kinh Tran ordered Phung Ta Chu oversee the contruction of a palace in this area. Te Trac, a comtemporary person, described this palace: “Tide surrounds the palace, flavour of flowers pervades the air, many beautifully decorated boats come back and forth, all look like a fairyland”.

Tuc Mac was the largest palace in the period of Tran Dynasty, ever destructed by invaders. In this scenic spot, archaeologists have uncovered many important remains. A drainage tiles and bricks were at 0.20-0.30m underground around Tran temple. In the exploration in 1976, at 0.3m in depth, archaeologists found the bed with bricks of the vestige. The fields of over two hectares surrounding the temple were relevant to many historical names such as Kho Nhi, Noi Cung and Cua Trieu.

In the historical areas, many relics such as pottery, grey enamel and dragonheads, earthen phoenix heads, flowered enamelled tiles, shoe-tip-tiles for the decoration and construction works and household utensils such as bowl, dishes and terra-cotta jar. For some kinds of dishes, bottoms were carved the sentence of “Thien Truong phu che”.

The cluster monuments of Tran Temple is located in the suburb of Nam Dinh Province with many communal houses, pagodas, temples, tombs, stone shrines. Temples of Thien Truong, Co Trach and Pho Minh Pagoda - the famous cultural historical relics dedicated to Tran reign, founded on the land where the regime of Tran was generated. It is Tran Temple. In which, Thien Truong Temple worships 14 Tran Kings, set up under the later Le Dynasty. Co Trach Temple worships Tran Hung Dao, set up under the Nguyen Dynasty.

One of such traditional major festivals, serving as a pride of indigenous inhabitants as thinking about the kingly race of the Viet's nation: Tran Temple Festival.Tran Temple Festival annually lasts from the 15th-20th of lunar August

In the odd years, the festival is launched more magnificently than in even years. Nevertheless, visitors all over the country do not wait for the very happening of the festival to join but eagerly go on pilgrimage far prior to the day. On their arrival, every people do expect the good and happy things.

The expression lingered in the mind of the Viet people like a reminder of finding way back to the root as August and March came to join vivid festivals in memory of Father and Holy Mother, who founded and protected the supernatural land. On their arrival, every people do expect the good and happy things.

The large flag flutters in front of the temple - the traditional flag with striking colours standing for five basic elements, its square shape stands for earth (negative), the sickle-shaped tassels for heaven (positive). The word "Tran" is embroidered amidst the flag in Chinese characters by two combined words "Dong" and "A".

Some photos of Tran Temple

The ceremony is carried out solemnly. The first is the ceremony carrying the gods from the temples in the area back Tran temple to offer incense. Incense Offering Ceremony has 14 virgins carrying the trays of flowers, going into Tran Temple to offer the kings. Besides the ceremony, there are many unique art and sports activities such as cockfighting, martial arts performing, wrestling, lion dancing, balanced bridge walking (di cau kieu), flower dancing, chess playing. These cultural activities make Tran festival interesting attracting visitors all over the nation.

Tran Temple Festival in Nam Dinh is one of the most famous festivals in North Viet Nam. If you have a chance to travel to Ninh Dinh Province in mid-August, do not forget to attend this special festival.

Some photos off Tran Festival:

Tran Temple Festival happens formally, consisting processions from neighbouring villages to Thuong Temple. The incense-offering rite involves in 14 virgins carrying 14 trays of flowers into the temple and placing them on thrones in the musical vibration. This act is the image of the former feudal courts.

The festival involves various cultural activities: cock fighting, five-generation fighting art performances, wrestling, unicorn dance, bai bong dance, sword dance, cheo singing, van singing and so on. According to historic records, under the rule of King Tran Nhan Tong, after the Mongolian invaders were defeated, the King offered feast through 03 successive days known as "Thai binh dien yen".

The Great tutor Tran Quang Khai composed the dance for the victory namely "bai bong" and taught the imperial singers to perform. The dancers were pretty ladies dressed in the ethnic clothes,putting on their shoulders a short pole hanging with flower baskets or paper-made lanterns at the two ends.

The dancers also held on to a fan to enrich their performance. "Bai bong" dance contained acts of "bat dat", "luc dat" and "tu dat". Nevertheless, it was neatly adjust edunder the Nguyen Dynasty. Currently, there is still a team of skilled dancers of the kind in Phuong Bong ward on the outskirts of Nam Dinh. It is said that Hat Van is derived from Hat Chau composed under the Tran Dynasty, popularised and trimmed under the Le Mat time.

Over the last years, branches and departments, especially the culture-information sector in Nam Dinh, have paid attention to preserving and enhancing such cultural identities. Nam Dinh Province takes pride in its reference of "national root", giving birth and nursing hearts and souls of "Mother" and "Father" of the people. On the occasion of the festival, people across the country are warmly welcome to the place by the local friendly and simple residents.

The unique cultural activities, especially the splendid and radiant atmosphere of "Dong A", make Tran Temple Festival attractive to most travellers.