(BNP) – On the morning of February 28 (the 12th day of the first lunar month), at the Tay Yen Tu Spiritual–Ecological Tourism Area, the People’s Committee of Tay Yen Tu commune held the opening ceremony of the 2026 Tay Yen Tu Spring Festival under the theme “Sacred Tay Yen Tu.”
Delegates attend the opening ceremony.
Attending the ceremony were General Pham Van Tra, former Politburo member and former Minister of National Defense; and Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Representing Bac Ninh province were Nguyen Hong Thai, Member of the Party Central Committee and Provincial Party Secretary; Nguyen Thi Huong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Van Linh, former Chairman of Bac Giang Provincial People’s Committee; along with members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, leaders of departments, agencies, localities, and a large number of monks, nuns, Buddhists, residents, and visitors from across the country.
In his opening speech, Le Duc Thang, Secretary of the Tay Yen Tu Party Committee and Chairman of the commune People’s Council, emphasized the special significance of the 2026 Lunar New Year festival season as the country enters a new stage of development. Tay Yen Tu was not only a spiritual festival space but also a place where core national values were gathered and spread, including patriotism, aspirations for peace, and the spirit of great national unity.
From this sacred land, Tran Nhan Tong—after leading the nation to victory in two wars of resistance—renounced the throne, founded the Truc Lam Zen sect, and crystallized the philosophy of “Three Harmonies”: reconciliation, harmony, and peace—values remaining deeply relevant today.
This year’s festival was even more meaningful as it was held following the event in which the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac complex of monuments and landscapes was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, opening new opportunities to further promote the region’s distinctive cultural and historical values.
Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Hong Thai performs the ritual of beating the drum to officially open the festival.
Following the spring blessing ritual, delegates performed the drum-beating and bell-ringing ceremony to officially open the festival, praying for national prosperity and peace, and offering incense at Hoa Nghiem Pagoda.
A special art program titled “Sacred Tay Yen Tu,” held after the opening ceremony, recreated the journey of King–Monk Tran Nhan Tong from an enlightened ruler to a spiritually accomplished monk, spreading the engaged spirit of Truc Lam Buddhism.
The festival also featured a variety of cultural and sporting activities, folk games, exhibitions of OCOP products and local specialties, creating a joyful and vibrant atmosphere attracting large numbers of residents and visitors.
Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet and other delegates perform the seal-opening ceremony at the Tay Yen Tu Spring Festival 2026.
Additionally, Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet and other delegates performed the seal-opening ritual at the 2026 Tay Yen Tu Spring Festival.
