Traditional festivals that have existed for generations
The Ngo Duong Temple and Pagoda Swimming Festival is a typical intangible cultural heritage of An Phong ward, Hai Phong city, associated with the belief in worshiping the tutelary god of Ngo Duong village - Hoang Do Cu Si. The festival not only carries profound historical, cultural, and spiritual values but is also a vivid expression of community solidarity, martial traditions and the ethical principle of "drinking water, remembering the source" of the nation; and at the same time meets the needs of enjoying spiritual cultural values and spiritual life of people inside and outside the ward.
According to historical documents, village regulations, legends - spirits of Ngo Duong village and local folk legends, the Boi Thap festival has been practiced by the community for a long time. Having gone through many historical upheavals, at one point facing the risk of fading, but with the community's awareness of preserving heritage, the festival is still preserved, maintained and restored, becoming an indispensable traditional cultural activity in the spiritual life of the people of Ngo Duong.
The festival is held annually on the 24th and 25th days of the twelfth lunar month and from the 3rd to the 5th day of the first lunar month, associated with the cremation day (December 25th of the twelfth lunar month) of Thanh Hoang Hoang Do Cu Si and his 6 brothers. Within the framework of the festival, many unique traditional rituals take place such as: the ceremony of worshiping Cao Yet (merging into the country), the ceremony of lowering water, water procession, incense offering ceremony, worshiping Saints; along with swimming competitions across the Co Bong River in front of Ngo Duong temple and pagoda.
A prominent highlight of the Ngo Duong Temple and Pagoda Swimming Festival is the form of swimming that requires high technique, combining speed and skill when having to perform single and double swimming rounds. Swimming teams representing villages in the village, with costumes in the colors of the five elements, strictly complying with traditional regulations such as vegetarianism, centralized activities, preserving rituals, showing respect for Saints and the beauty of traditional culture of the locality. Besides the ritual part and the main festival part, the festival also has cultural and artistic activities, traditional folk games, creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere in the early spring days.
With typical values of history, culture and society, the Ngo Duong Temple and Pagoda Swimming Festival is recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage according to Decision No. 2740/QD-BVHTTDL dated September 30, 2020. This is an honor and pride of the Party Committee, government and people of An Phong ward.
Bustling spring festival
Clearly recognizing the meaning and importance of the national intangible cultural heritage, the Party Committee and government of An Phong ward always pay attention to leading and comprehensively directing the work of preserving and promoting festival values. The ward proactively develops annual festival organization plans to ensure solemnity, proper traditional rituals, safety, economy, and suitability with civilized lifestyles; and at the same time promote propaganda and education to raise awareness of officials, party members and people about the meaning of preserving and conserving intangible cultural heritage.
This year's festival takes place from February 19 to February 21 (ie, from the 3rd to the 5th day of the first lunar month) with many rich and unique activities: offering incense to commemorate, Quan Ho singing on the river, swimming final competition, thanksgiving ceremony, cultural exchange celebrating the Party - celebrating Spring, god worshiping ceremony and closing ceremony for awards. Each activity is a cultural color, blending into a solemn but bustling festival picture, traditional but modern, sacred but close.
Through the festival, promoting the image of An Phong people who are dynamic, affectionate, and rich in tradition; and at the same time, arousing the spirit of labor and production emulation, building a cultural life, contributing to the successful implementation of socio-economic development goals in 2026 and the following years.
Through the organization of festivals, An Phong ward is gradually linking heritage preservation work with cultural and tourism development, promoting the local image, creating conditions to attract tourists, promoting service and trade activities, contributing to socio-economic development. At the same time, creating a vibrant emulation atmosphere, encouraging people to successfully implement the local political tasks in 2026 and the following years.
