On April 17 (March 1st of the lunar calendar), the world heritage site Thanh Mai Pagoda in Nguyen Trai ward, Hai Phong City, the Con Son - Kiep Bac Relic Management Board organized the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Heritage Site Thanh Mai Pagoda, on the occasion of commemorating the 696th anniversary of the death of Phap Loa (1330 - 2026).
The festival is an occasion to show gratitude to ancestors, especially the special ancestor, the Second Patriarch of Truc Lam Phap Loa - the person who succeeded and developed the Truc Lam Buddhist Zen sect. At the same time, the event contributes to raising community awareness in preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage.
On the opening day of the festival, thousands of people and tourists came to attend, offer incense and worship. The relic space both maintained its solemnity and was bustling with many cultural and experiential activities attracting a large number of participants.
In addition to traditional rituals such as the Buddha worshiping ceremony, pedestrian procession, and commemoration of the Second Patriarch of Pháp Loa, the organizers also introduced the exhibition "Thanh Mai World Heritage - Outstanding Global Values", and launched a tour to experience and explore the heritage.
Many cultural practice activities such as calligraphy writing, woodblock printing, baking, honey roasting are also organized, creating a lively interactive space for tourists, especially young people.
The festival lasts from April 17 to the end of April 19 (March 1 - 3 of the lunar calendar), with a series of diverse activities. On April 18, the "Conquering Tam Ban peak" mountain climbing race will take place, the announcement ceremony of the establishment of the Sen Kiep Bac Club and folk games.
On April 19, the Second Patriarch of Pháp Loa's death anniversary ceremony, Mong Son thí thực ceremony and many traditional cultural activities will be held.
Through the festival, the organizers expect to continue to spread the cultural values of Truc Lam, raise awareness of heritage preservation in the community, and at the same time gradually make Thanh Mai Pagoda a typical spiritual tourist destination of Hai Phong and the region.
