Crowded with people attending the biggest festival in Lang Son
Every spring, Lang Son people and tourists from all over the country flock to Lang Son city to participate in the Ky Cung - Ta Phu festival, one of the largest traditional festivals in the Northeast region.
The festival atmosphere was bustling and bustling, thousands of people crowded together on the roads leading to the two sacred temples to offer offer offerings, pray for peace and participate in the firecracker robbery ceremony - the most attractive activity of the festival.
Present at the Ky Cung - Ta Phu Festival in 2025, it is noted that despite the cold weather, people and tourists from all over the world still flock to the festival. On National Highway 1 and the routes leading to Lang Son city, the traffic flow is dense and cramped.
From early morning, people crowded into the area of Ky Cung Temple and Ta Phu Temple. Each person carries incense and offerings to offer to the ancestors, showing respect.
This year, the large theaters are built close to both sides of the road, making everyone amazed. Many households and clans are willing to spend tens of millions of VND to rent theaters and display table games right on the main streets, welcoming people from near and far.
Rising to rob a firecracker head for prayers
The impressive highlight of this festival is the robbery of firecrackers, a ritual with profound spiritual meaning, attracting thousands of tourists and local people.
People in the rumored area, during the reign of Han Quan Cong Tai, there was a year when a group of robbers emerged to harass the people, he mobilized forces to stay and coordinate with the people to destroy the group of robbers.
After that victory, every year, he held a festival to celebrate the victory in early spring. Since then, the fireworks display has been held and has become increasingly popular with tourists from near and far.
At the robbery of the head of the firecracker, the head of the firecracker was hung on a bamboo tree about 15m high, inside the head of the firecracker, there was a metal ring, connected to the head of the firecracker with two slowly burning firecrackers falling close to the ground.
When the fireworks were burned, the head of the fireworks exploded and the metal ring flew into the air, everyone waited for the metal ring to fall and rushed into the painting.
Whoever can compete will report to the temple, then the Organizing Committee will announce and honor, give awards and then take a walk home to thank their ancestors. Next year, that person would quay a pig, bring it to the temple to make an offering to the god.
In this year's firecracker robbery game, Mr. Dinh Van Nhien - a tourist from Thanh Mien district, Hai Duong province - became the winner.
Unable to hide his excitement, Mr. Nhien shared: "I have been to Lang Son many times and learned about the game of robbing firecrackers in the Ky Cung - Ta Phu festival. Fortunately, when we were participating, the head of the firecracker fell close to me and I picked it up. I am really excited and surprised, and at the same time hope that this year my family and I will have good luck."
Ms. Bui Thi Quyen - a tourist from Hai Phong City - said: "This is the first time I have come to Lang Son. truly, the people of Lang Son are very enthusiastic and hospitable, the Ky Cung - Ta Phu festival is also very interesting. Next year, I will definitely invite more friends and relatives to come here to enjoy the unique and culinary features of the festival".
The Ky Cung - Ta Phu Festival takes place from January 22-27 every year, one of the biggest festivals in Lang Son, attracting a large number of local people and tourists from all over the world.
The large number of tourists flocking to Lang Son also makes motels and hotels in Lang Son city and neighboring areas "uses up" rooms.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Ha - a tourist from Hanoi - said: "Because I was subjective, I did not book a room first, went to the place to find 10 hotels, all rooms were on fire, there was not one empty space left".
According to this male tourist, fortunately after that, he was arranged a temporary break at a relative's house.
