Restoration of the “Ong Khiu - Ba Khiu” Procession Festival

On February 27 - 28 (the 11th and 12th days of the first lunar month, Year of the Horse), Hy Cuong Commune solemnly organized the restoration of the “Ong Khiu - Ba Khiu” Procession Festival after a 19-year hiatus.

The event was attended by Mr. Nguyen Manh Son — Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, along with members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee: Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien — Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council; Ms. Bui Thi Thu Hang — Chairwoman of the Provincial Party Inspection Committee; Mr. Luong Duc Minh — Head of the Provincial Party Propagation and Mobilization Board, among others.

Delegates offer incense to remember and pay tribute to the ancestors.

The “Ong Khiu - Ba Khiu” Procession Festival originated in the ancient village of Gia Ninh (formerly Thanh Dinh Commune, Viet Tri City). It is one of the most distinctive traditional festivals of the Ancestral Land, associated with the worship of Tan Vien Son Thanh (The Mountain God of Tan Vien) and Quy Minh Dai Vuong — legendary figures from the Hung Kings’ era of national founding.

The festival reflects multiple layers of traditional Vietnamese beliefs, including wet-rice agricultural rituals, fertility cults, and ancestor worship, all of which hold significant historical, cultural, and scientific value. The system of rituals, customs, and performances within the festival preserves the pristine cultural imprints of agricultural residents, conveying aspirations for reproduction, bountiful harvests, peace, and prosperity.

Thanh Dinh Communal House — the sacred spiritual center of the festival.

From early morning, large crowds of locals and tourists reverently participated in the sacred fertility rituals at Oa Nha Nit, followed by the traditional “army running” and “flag shouting” ceremonies at Go Te Thanh amidst the resounding echoes of festival drums.

At Thanh Dinh Communal House, the community’s spiritual hub, ceremonies to pray for good harvests, the Ong Giai Procession, the Kim Nguu Flag Procession, and fishing reenactments were organized in a solemn and methodical manner, creating a festival space that was both sacred and vibrant.

After a 19-year hiatus, locals and tourists participate in traditional rituals and performances.

The success of this year’s festival serves as an important foundation for Hy Cuong Commune to complete the documentation and request the Provincial People’s Committee to submit a proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The goal is to enroll the “Ong Khiu - Ba Khiu” Procession Festival into the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage once all criteria are met. This effort contributes to affirming the enduring and immortal vitality of the traditional cultural values of the Ancestral Land.

Ta Thanh - Tran Tuan