A spring trip to Ninh Binh is more than sightseeing—it is a journey of peace, renewal, and prayers for a prosperous year ahead. Below are the three most iconic and meaningful spring festivals you should not miss when visiting Ninh Binh.
1. Bai Dinh Spring Festival – A Sacred Start to an Auspicious Year
Opening on the 6th day of the Lunar New Year and lasting until the end of the third lunar month, the Bai Dinh Spring Festival is one of the largest and most anticipated festivals in Northern Vietnam. Within the grand complex of Bai Dinh Pagoda—the largest pagoda in Vietnam—thousands of pilgrims and visitors gather to pray for health, peace, and good fortune.
The ritual ceremony is solemn and respectful, with incense offerings to the Buddha, memorial rites for Saint Nguyen Minh Khong, and worship ceremonies for the deities Cao Son and Mother Thuong Ngan.
The festive activities are lively and colorful: palanquin processions, calligraphy booths, art exhibitions, bird releasing, drum performances, and traditional Cheo singing.
Suggested experience: Begin the year with a pilgrimage to the 13-story Bao Thap (Stupa), home to sacred Buddha relics. From 100 meters above ground, admire the sweeping view over Trang An—an uplifting way to welcome a new year.
2. Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival – A Thousand Years of History
Held from the 9th to the 11th day of the third lunar month, the Hoa Lu Festival honors two heroic kings: Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh. Set within the historic grounds of Vietnam’s first capital, the festival brings visitors back to the glorious pages of the nation’s early history.
The ritual ceremonies include the traditional Water Procession on the Hoang Long River and solemn offerings at the temples of the Dinh and Le Kings.
The festive activities vibrantly showcase Vietnamese culture: the “Cờ Lau Tập Trận” reenactment (childhood game of King Dinh), dragon dances, letter-forming performances, wrestling, and calligraphy contests.
Suggested experience: Join the Water Procession to feel the sacred spirit of the ancient capital. The echoing drumbeats against the backdrop of limestone mountains will make you feel as if history itself is breathing around you.
3. Thai Vi Temple Festival – Honoring the Trần Dynasty
Taking place from the 14th to the 16th day of the third lunar month in Van Lam Village (Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu), the Thai Vi Temple Festival pays tribute to the kings of the Trần Dynasty—renowned for their contributions to both nation-building and national defense.
Situated amidst the poetic scenery of Tam Coc – Bich Dong, Thai Vi Temple becomes a spiritual gathering point where mountains, rice fields, and the Ngo Dong River form a breathtaking tapestry of heritage.
The ritual ceremony features palanquin processions and solemn offerings to the Trần kings.
The festive activities include dragon dances, lion dances, wrestling, human chess, and boat racing—reflecting the martial spirit of the Trần era.
Suggested experience: Take a boat ride on the Ngo Dong River, listening to the distant festival drums echo across the valley. It is one of the most serene and profound ways to experience the “sacred mountains and holy waters” of the Trang An landscape.
Spring in Ninh Binh – A Journey of Peace and Heritage
Every festival in Ninh Binh is a cultural time capsule, a bridge between past and present, earth and human spirit. A spring journey here is not only about admiring majestic scenery but also about finding inner peace—allowing each step to open the door to positivity and good fortune for the year ahead.
At the start of the year, return to the land of the ancient capital—where every pilgrimage is a walk back to your roots, and every festival is a blessing for a prosperous and peaceful year.
