National Hero Tran Hung Dao's 715th death anniversary solemnly celebrated

The Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee (PPC), People's Council and Committee, and Fatherland Front Committee on September 29 morning (the 17th day of the 8th lunar month) solemnly celebrated the 715th death anniversary of National Hero Tran Hung Dao (1300 – 2015) and opened Con Son – Kiep Bac autumn festival in Kiep Bac relic site (Chi Linh).

In attendance were Mr. Bui Thanh Quyen, Member of the Central Party Committee, PPC Secretary, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, and Head of the Provincial Delegation of National Assembly Deputies; Mr. Bui Van Cuong, Alternate Member of the Central Party Committee, Secretary of the Central Business Bloc's Party Committee; Mr. Vu Van Son, PPC Standing Deputy Secretary; Mr. Nguyen Manh Hien, PPC Deputy Secretary, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Le Thanh Van, PPC Deputy Secretary; members of the PPC's Standing Board; and leaders of departments, boards, sectors, and unions of the province, districts, provincial town, and city.

Also attending the anniversary were leading representatives of many provinces and cities in the Hong river delta region and the Provincial Buddhist Sangha, numerous locals, and visitors from everywhere.

The speech delivered at the ceremony by Mr. Nguyen Manh Hien, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Festival Organizing Board, highlighted Great Lord Hung Dao's significant contributions to three struggles against Yuan-Mongol aggressors.

Born to Tran royal family in 1228, Great Lord Hung Dao was both a scholar and a warrior. Under the command of him and Tran kings, the army and people of Dai Viet (former name of Vietnam) achieved brilliant feats of arms when the Yuan-Mongol enemy invaded the country in the 13th century.

After the 1st resistance war, Tran Hung Dao chose Kiep Bac to establish the general headquarters and build the northeastern military defense line in 1258. There, Great Lord Hung Dao in June of the same year gathered 200,000 soldiers and more than 1,000 warships to attend Van Kiep battle, killing 20,000 Yuan-Mongol soldiers and ending the 2nd resistance war.

In March 1288, from Van Kiep base, Great Lord Hung Dao and King Tran Nhan Tong counter-attacked and fought for victory on the Bach Dang river, killing 300,000 enemy troops and successfully finishing the 3rd resistance war against Yuan-Mongol aggressors. His name became the pride of Vietnamese people in the history of founding and safeguarding the country...

With special cultural value, in 2012, Con Son – Kiep Bac was ranked as a special national relic site, and Con Son – Kiep Bac festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

At present, a dossier on Con Son, Kiep Bac, Thanh Mai and Yen Tu relic (Quang Ninh), and Vinh Nghiem pagoda (Bac Giang) is being perfected by the localities to request the UNESCO's recognition as world cultural heritage.

After the funeral oration reading ritual, the delegates, numerous locals, and visitors respectfully offered incense in commemoration of Saint Tran in front of Bac house and the main temple.

* Jubilantly taking place at 9 am of the same day on the Luc Dau river was the army festival with the performance of 30 boats of fishermen from Kenh Giang commune (Chi Linh). The boats were decorated with colorful festive flags, and the fishermen wore costumes of commanders and soldiers, waved flags, brandished lances, and impetuously departed, reenacting the scene of Tran Hung Dao’s troop review in 1285.

Along with the boiling atmosphere on the river, on the banks were eye-catching dragon, kylin, boxing, stick, and sword dance performances of 400 martial artists of Nhat Nam sect. The combination of water and land made up a spectacular and heroic scene of the old army festival.

Since restoration, the army festival on the Luc Dau river has been more perfected year by year in terms of content and quality.

Some photos taken by reporters of the Hai Duong Newspaper at the festival on September 29 morning

Leaders of Hai Duong and Bac Ninh provinces offer incense at the anniversary



Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee Bui Thanh Quyen offers incense in commemoration of Saint Tran



Chairman of the Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Manh Hien delivers the festival opening speech



Central and provincial leaders, locals, and visitors attend the anniversary



Reading the funeral oration dedicated to Saint Tran







People attending the festival

Boats are decorated with colorful festive flags, and fishermen wear costumes of commanders and soldiers, wave flags, brandish lances, and impetuously depart, reenacting the scene of Tran Hung Dao’s troop review in 1285

NGOC HUNG