The Ngoa Van Spring Festival Opening Ceremony, held on the 9th day of the first lunar month every year, expresses profound reverence for Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong and our ancestors, representing a cultural beauty in the customs and traditions of the Vietnamese people.
Ngoa Van 2026: A festival of international stature
Following the milestone on July 12, 2025, when UNESCO officially recognized the Ngoa Van monument complex as a World Cultural Heritage site (part of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son Kiep Bac complex), this year's Spring Festival was organized on a larger scale and with richer content than ever before.
The event affirms the outstanding global historical value, while also serving as a place to preserve the socially engaged spirit ("Nhap the") that shines with the Vietnamese identity of the Truc Lam Zen Sect. The ceremony was attended by the World Heritage Management Board, the Quang Ninh Provincial Authority, and the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Quang Ninh Province.
Solemn and sacred spiritual rituals
The festival begins with traditional rituals that connect the Vietnamese soul back to its roots:
- Incense offering ritual: Taking place at Ngoa Van Hermitage - Pagoda, where Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong practiced religion and entered Nirvana. This is a profound moment to commemorate the immense merits of Him and our predecessors.
- Ritual praying for national peace and prosperity: Wholeheartedly praying for a smooth and auspicious new year, a peaceful country, and a joyful people.
The incense offering ritual praying for national peace and prosperity at the Opening Ceremony of the Ngoa Van Spring Festival 2026
The incense offering ritual praying for national peace and prosperity at the Opening Ceremony of the Ngoa Van Spring Festival 2026
The journey back to Ngoa Van during this year's opening festival brings a unique combination of traditional spirituality and the breath of modern art:
- "Ngoa Van Ca" Chorus: An epic performance by a 50-person choir at the Bamboo House. The echoing sound amidst the vast forest touched the emotions of thousands of visitors.
- Ngoa Van Bamboo House: The festival space was held at the Bamboo House – a unique design made from natural bamboo materials and thatched roofs, with a capacity of over 2,000 people, creating an intimate and rustic setting.
- Diverse festival activities: Bustling lion - unicorn - dragon dances, and poetry recitation and musical programs steeped in national cultural identity.
The epic "Ngoa Van Ca" choir with the participation of 50 people raising their voices together
Tree planting ceremony - Nurturing green sprouts on the land of the Buddhist Emperor
As part of the series of meaningful activities at the Ngoa Van Spring Festival Opening Ceremony 2026, a delegation of Buddhists organized a tea tree planting activity at Phu Am Tra (Am Tra Palace). This is a special relic site where Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong once rested and enjoyed tea on his journey up to Ngoa Van Hermitage - Pagoda to practice religion.
Amidst the pure space of the sanctuary, replanting green tea trees is not only a landscaping activity but also aims to recreate the cultural beauty of Zen tea associated with the virtuous life of the Patriarch. Through this, every Buddhist gains a deeper understanding of the simplicity and transcendent nature of the wise king who founded the Truc Lam Zen Sect, radiating the Vietnamese identity.
Standing before the resting place of the Buddhist Emperor, every tea tree planted carries a heartfelt prayer for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, and the enduring survival of the nation's cultural heritage values. This is a practical action by today's generation to preserve and promote the values of the Ngoa Van Hermitage - Pagoda Special National Relic Site.
The tea tree planting program on the land of the Buddhist Emperor
Returning to Ngoa Van during the opening festival, everyone also gets to experience a combination of traditional spirituality and modern cultural tourism trends, healing meditation, and enjoying the pristine landscape, bringing a complete journey at the Truc Lam Sanctuary.
The early Spring 2026 Ngoa Van Festival is an opportunity for each person to trace back to the roots of Truc Lam Buddhism, returning to a peaceful place to enjoy the majestic natural scenery while further understanding the history and spiritual culture of our predecessors to build an increasingly beautiful present life./.