Giong Festival

Giong Festival is annually celebrated in spring time at several parts of Hanoi in order to commemorate Saint Giong, one of the four immortals of Vietnam

Giong Festival

07-05-2019

Giong Festival is annually celebrated in spring time at several parts of Hanoi in order to commemorate Saint Giong, one of the four immortals of Vietnam. He is a great hero in Vietnam's mythology, with his splendid merit in defending the country against foreign enemies.

According to cultural experts, the festivals held in Phu Dong Temple (where Saint Giong was born) and Soc Temple (where he ascended to heaven) are the most meaningful and notable, which have been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of mankind.

This cultural event is unique in that it is completely preserved and continuously passed on through generations despite fluctuations of time. Depending on destinations, the festival takes place in different occasions in the year.

The Giong Festival at Phu Dong Temple
Time: 13 May 2019
Phu Dong’s Giong Festival is in May 13, 2019, and it plays an important role enhancing patriotism among the country. Its rituals represent the Saint’s feats in the battle against An army, for example: riding a white horse into battle and organizing a sophisticated flag dance to symbolize the battle itself.

Phu Dong’s Giong Festival might be regarded a huge folk theater with hundreds of roles, following a standardized script. From props, costumes, to chapters and characters—each of them contains profound meaning. In the festival, there are 28 girls (from 9 to 13 years old) playing the generals of An invaders. In the dance, the character 令on the red flag indicates that military commands should be strictly followed. The dance’s movements, along with the sound of drums and gongs, express the changes of the battle. After the festival, a sign of raining is seen as Saint Giong’s benediction for an abundant harvest.

Apart from ritual activities, there are also a wide range of folk games, which effectively draw local residents and visitors to the festival.