The opening ceremony was organized by the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board at the Tran Dynasty Temple (Trai Loc Area, An Sinh Ward).
According to the festival script, the ceremony part includes many traditional rituals such as: the ceremony of inviting the king; the ceremony of worshiping the ancestor; the ceremony of praying for peace; the ceremony of protecting the gods; the water procession ceremony; the opening ceremony; the death anniversary of Duc Thai To Tran Thua; the ceremony of worship and the thanksgiving ceremony.
The festival part took place sôi nổi with many cultural, sports and folk games such as: playing clay firecrackers, throwing còn, bridge kiều, men's – women's volleyball competition, traditional martial arts performances and cultural exchange programs.
This is the first time the festival has been held after the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex were honored by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
The festival is an opportunity for people and tourists from all directions to offer incense, worship, express their sincerity and gratitude for the merits of the predecessors who contributed to building the country.
According to historical records, more than 7 centuries ago, in 1237, after ascending the throne, King Tran Thai Tong (ie Tran Canh) bestowed on his brother Tran Lieu the land of Ngu Yen including: Yen Sinh, Yen Phu, Yen Duong, Yen Bang and Yen Hung, and at the same time conferred the title of An Sinh Vuong.
Here, An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu built An Sinh Palace and many palace buildings. Among them was Tien Mieu (meaning Thai Mieu) to worship ancestors and their father, Thai To Duc Tran Thua.
After An Sinh Vuong Tran Lieu passed away, the Tran Dynasty continued to expand Tien Mieu into Thai Mieu of the royal family with increasing scale. Tran kings after passing away were all worshiped here.
The Tran Dynasty was also the founding dynasty of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect with the ideology of "stay alive and go to the right path", laying the foundation for the development of Vietnamese Buddhism in the position of national religion. Therefore, An Sinh land is not only the birthplace of the Tran Dynasty but also a typical cultural and spiritual center with a complex of unique religious and belief architectural relics.
Over many centuries, the Tran Dynasty's Thai Temple has become a sacred spiritual gathering point, where people, Buddhists and pilgrims from all directions come to worship, pray for peace and express gratitude to their ancestors, continuing the tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source".
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Pham Dinh Huynh, Deputy Head of the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board, affirmed that the Thai Mieu Temple opening ceremony of the Tran Dynasty not only marks the beginning of the 2026 festival season but also marks the beginning of a year of continuing to promote heritage values.
This year's festival also sets higher requirements in the management, preservation, and maintenance of cultural space and religious life; developing cultural and spiritual tourism associated with preserving and promoting the value of the Yen Tu relic and scenic complex in general, and the Thai Mieu relic of the Tran Dynasty in particular.
The Deputy Head of the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board called on people, Buddhists and tourists to participate in the festival with a civilized spirit, respecting the sacred space of the heritage; joining hands to preserve the landscape, protect the environment, and spread the image of friendly and hospitable Quang Ninh people.
