The Ngoa Van Spring Festival, held annually on the 9th day of the first lunar month, is a profound expression of gratitude toward the King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong and our ancestors. It serves as a beautiful showcase of the cultural values and traditional customs of the Vietnamese people.
Ngoa Van 2026: A Festival of International Stature
Following the milestone of July 12, 2025, when UNESCO officially recognized the Ngoa Van monument complex as a World Cultural Heritage site (as 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 reaffirms the outstanding global historical value of the site while preserving the "Engaged Buddhism" philosophy (Nhap the) of the Truc Lam Zen Sect, which radiates Vietnamese identity. The ceremony was attended by the World Heritage Management Board, the authorities of Quang Ninh Province, and the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of Quang Ninh Province.
Solemn and Sacred Spiritual Rituals
The festival began with traditional rituals that connect the Vietnamese soul to its roots:
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Incense Offering Ceremony: Held at Ngoa Van Pagoda-Hermitage, the sacred place where King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong practiced his faith and entered Nirvana. This was a solemn moment to commemorate the great merits of the King-Monk and the ancestors.
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Prayer Ceremony for National Peace and Prosperity: A collective prayer for a smooth new year, a peaceful country, and a happy life for all citizens.
Incense offering ceremony praying for national peace and prosperity at the Ngoa Van Spring Festival 2026
An Emotional Cultural and Artistic Space
The journey back to Ngoa Van for this year's opening ceremony offered a unique blend of traditional spirituality and modern artistic flair:
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"Ngoa Van Ca" Choir: A majestic performance by a 50-person choir at the Bamboo House (Nha Truc). The echoing sounds amidst the vast forest touched the hearts of thousands of visitors.
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Ngoa Van Bamboo House: The festival space was centered around the Bamboo House—a unique architectural design made from natural bamboo and thatched roofing, with a capacity of over 2,000 people, creating a rustic and intimate setting.
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Diverse Festive Activities: Vibrant lion, monk, and dragon dances, along with poetry recitals and musical programs imbued with national cultural identity
The majestic Ngoa Van Ca choir with 50 performers raising their voices in harmony.
Tree Planting Ceremony – Sowing Green Seeds in the Land of the King-Mon
As part of the meaningful activities of the Ngoa Van Spring Festival 2026, a delegation of Buddhists organized a tea tree planting activity at Phu Am Tra. This is a special historical site where the King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong used to rest and enjoy tea during his journey to the Ngoa Van Hermitage.
Amidst the tranquil atmosphere of this holy land, replanting green tea trees is not just a landscaping effort but also a recreation of the beautiful "Tea Zen" (Trà thiền) culture associated with the virtuous life of the Founder. Through this, each Buddhist gains a deeper understanding of the simplicity and transcendence of the wise monarch who founded the Truc Lam Zen Sect.
Standing before the traces of the King-Monk’s resting place, each tree planted carries the wish for national peace, favorable weather, and the eternal preservation of national cultural heritage values. This is a practical action by today’s generation to conserve and promote the value of the Special National Monument Complex of Ngoa Van Pagoda-Hermitage.
The tea tree planting program in the sacred land of the King-Monk.
Visiting Ngoa Van during the festival, visitors can experience a harmony between traditional spirituality and modern cultural tourism trends, including healing meditation and the enjoyment of pristine landscapes, ensuring a complete journey to the Truc Lam Holy Land.
The Ngoa Van Festival at the beginning of Spring 2026 is an opportunity for everyone to return to the roots of Truc Lam Buddhism, to find a place of peace to admire the majestic natural scenery, and to better understand the history and spiritual culture of our ancestors to build an even brighter present life.