On the morning of February 9, despite the chilly weather in Bac Giang, a large crowd of locals and visitors converged on the central square to kick off the Tay Yen Tu Spring Festival and Bac Giang’s Culture & Tourism Week.

The festival committee organized a procession transporting the Tam To Truc Lam ancestral tablets from Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Bac Giang City to Ha Pagoda, which is part of the Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourist area in Son Dong District.

This ceremonial procession included 51 vehicles—symbolizing the age of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong—carrying festival banners, Buddhist flags, ceremonial offerings, and the Tam To Truc Lam ancestors’ tablets, along with a group of monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers. The event adhered to traditional Buddhist practices, maintaining a respectful and serious atmosphere.

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is acclaimed as the birthplace of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect and stands as a significant cultural symbol in Vietnamese Buddhism. Recognized as a Special National Relic, it is also regarded as the first Buddhist university in Vietnam.

The migration of the Tam To Truc Lam ancestral tablets to Ha Pagoda signifies a sacred pilgrimage that conveys hopes for prosperity, tranquility, and a fortunate new year.

During the morning at the Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological site, the Bac Giang Provincial People’s Committee marked the official launch of Bac Giang’s Culture & Tourism Week and the Tay Yen Tu Spring Festival for 2025, themed “Sacred Tay Yen Tu.”

Even in the cold weather, a significant number of attendees gathered in the central square for the ceremony.

Mai Son, the Permanent Vice Chairman of the Bac Giang People’s Committee, emphasized that this year’s festival will incorporate 13 main activities, such as:

– The procession of the Tam To Truc Lam ancestral tablets

– The “Journey Following the Footsteps of King Tran Nhan Tong” bicycle race

– The “Opening of the Forest” festival in Huong Son (Lang Giang District)

– The Sloong Hao folk singing festival in Tan Son (Luc Ngan District)

– The Tam Phu Mother Goddess Worship Festival at Suoi Mo Temple (Luc Nam District)

Visitors delighted in a 45-minute performance titled “Sacred Tay Yen Tu” during the ceremony, which was divided into three sections:

– Legends of the Sacred Land – The Origins of Truc Lam Buddhism

– Bac Giang – A Land of Cultural Heritage

– Bac Giang – A Land of Potential and Radiance

The performances showcased both traditional and modern music, including pieces like The Spiritual Path, King Tran Nhan Tong’s Dharma Legacy in Vietnam, On the Misty Peak, Love by the Mountains and Forests, and The Vibrant Spring of Tay Yen Tu.

During the opening ceremony, Nguyen Van Gau, Secretary of the Bac Giang Province Party Committee, officially inaugurated the 2025 Tay Yen Tu Spring Festival by striking the ceremonial drum.

The festival venue featured a variety of engaging performances, exhibitions, and interactive experiences that attracted thousands of visitors.

By midday, the crowd at Tay Yen Tu surged, with long lines forming at the area designated for sacred amulet distribution, as people eagerly anticipated receiving blessings and offers.

Bac Giang’s Culture & Tourism Week 2025 takes place from February 8 to 13 (the 11th to 16th day of the Lunar New Year), across multiple sites, including the Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological area, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Suoi Mo tourism area, and various local cultural venues throughout the province.