Party and State leaders and Hai Phong city leaders attend the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by Le Tien Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister; Nguyen Kim Son, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission; Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security; and Pham Tat Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front.

Party and State leaders and Hai Phong city leaders attend the ceremony.

Representing Hai Phong were Le Ngoc Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee and Head of the city’s National Assembly Delegation; Do Thanh Trung, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee; Do Manh Hien, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; and Le Van Hieu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Council, along with leaders of the city Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee, representatives of departments, agencies and localities, and a large number of local residents.

Drum performance at the artistic program.

As part of the ceremony, delegates, local residents and visitors enjoyed a special artistic program entitled “Van Kiep – The Spirit of a Thousand Years.” Lasting approximately 25 minutes, the elaborately staged program combined singing, dancing, music and traditional drum performances to recreate layers of history, culture and the spirit of the Van Kiep – Con Son region.

A highlight of the program was a large-scale drum performance featuring artists, performers, artisans and other participants. The drums ranged from measured and resonant rhythms to stirring and powerful beats, creating a solemn and heroic atmosphere and evoking the “Dong A Spirit” and the solidarity of the Tran Dynasty’s army and people in the defense of Đại Việt.

The artistic program creates a solemn and heroic atmosphere, evoking the Đông A Spirit and the solidarity of the Tran Dynasty’s army and people in defending Đại Việt.

The stirring historical atmosphere continued with singing, dancing and musical performances depicting the cultural, intellectual and humanitarian traditions associated with Hưng Đạo Đại Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn, the Trúc Lâm Zen School, and National Hero and World Cultural Figure Nguyen Trai. The songs “Con Son – Kiep Bac,” “Con Son – Hon Nưoc Ngan Thu – Tieng Đan Con Son” and “Ve Mien Di San” were performed by artists and singers from Hai Phong and art troupes from across the country.

The artistic program creates a solemn and heroic atmosphere, evoking the Đông A Spirit and the solidarity of the Trần Dynasty’s army and people in defending Dai Viet.

Combining modern artistic language with traditional materials, “Van Kiep – The Spirit of a Thousand Years” helped connect the historical and cultural values of Côn Sơn – Kiếp Bạc with contemporary life, creating an artistic highlight for the opening night while providing residents and visitors with a deeper introduction to the values of the heritage region.

The Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2026 takes place from September 26 to October 4. It is the first festival held after the Yen Tu – Vonh Nghiem – Con Sin – Kiep Bạc Complex of Monuments and scenic landscapes was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage property. The festival provides an opportunity for Hải Phòng to continue honoring, preserving and promoting the outstanding historical, cultural and religious values of Côn Sơn – Kiếp Bạc, while promoting the image of the heritage region and attracting residents and visitors to experience and explore it.

Vice Chairman of the Hai Phng People’s Committee Nguyễn Minh Hùng delivers the commemorative address marking the 726th death anniversary of National Hero Tran Hung Đao and opening the Con Son – Kiep Bạc Autumn Festival 2026.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyễn Minh Hùng, Vice Chairman of the Hải Phòng People’s Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee of the Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2026, emphasized that an annual sacred tradition has been maintained, known as “Thang Tam gio Cha” (“the Eighth-Month Death Anniversary of the Father”), when people from across the country turn their hearts toward Kiếp Bạc Temple to commemorate Saint Trần.

In the sacred space of Kiếp Bạc, where the former Van Kiep headquarters of the Trần Dynasty’s army remains commemorated, Hai Phong organized the ceremony marking the 726th death anniversary of National Hero Tran Hung Dao, opening the Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2026 and unveiling the brand identity system for the Yên Tử – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac World Heritage property.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Minh Hung affirmed that Con Son – Kiep Bac holds a special position in the nation’s history and culture and is associated with numerous national heroes, cultural figures and important events in the country’s history. In particular, the Van Kiep area once served as the headquarters of Hing Đao Đai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan, where the Supreme Commander trained troops, built defensive strategies and commanded the Tran Dynasty’s resistance wars against the Mongol-Yuan forcesa

Large numbers of local residents attend the ceremony.

Hung Đao Đai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan was an outstanding military commander who made particularly significant contributions to the three resistance wars against the Mongol-Yuan forces in the 13th century. His name and career are associated with resounding victories at Đong Bo Đau, Ham Tu, Chuong Duong, Van Kiep and, most notably, the Bạch Đằng victory in 1288. These victories became landmark milestones in Vietnam’s history of national construction and defense.

Beyond his military genius, Tran Hung Đao also left profound thoughts and perspectives on national defense, talent utilization and care for the people. His principle of “granting the people respite to build deep roots and a firm foundation” reflected a vision that placed the people at the center and regarded popular strength as the foundation of the nation. These values have been passed down through generations and have become an important part of Vietnamese cultural and religious life. Over more than seven centuries, the image of Hung Đao Đai Vuong has become a symbol of patriotism, the will for independence, solidarity and the strength to safeguard the nation.

The Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2026 takes place in a special context, following the inscription of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Scenic Landscapes as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage property. This is not only a source of honor and pride, but also a responsibility for local authorities, communities and every citizen to work together to protect, preserve and promote the heritage’s values.

This year’s festival runs for nine days, from September 26 to October 4, featuring a wide range of cultural, religious, artistic, experiential and tourism promotion activities. Traditional rituals, including the cáo yết ceremony, procession of the commemorative text, opening of the seal at Kiep Bac Temple, prayers for peace, lantern festival, processions, ceremonial rites and the death anniversary commemoration of Saint Tran, will be maintained alongside various experiential activities designed to bring the heritage’s values closer to communities and visitors.

The opening ceremony on the evening of September 26 served as a key highlight, connecting the commemoration of  Hung Đao Đai Vuong with the introduction of a new identity for the World Heritage property. Through traditional rituals, artistic programs, cultural activities and experiential offerings, the festival contributes to maintaining heritage practices in community life while creating distinctive cultural and tourism products at Con Son – Kiep Bac.

Hai Phong aims to develop the Con Son – Kiep Bac Festival into a distinctive cultural tourism product, contributing to the promotion of local tourism resources, stimulating tourism and services, and turning Con Son – Kiep Bac into an attractive cultural and spiritual destination with strong appeal both domestically and internationally.

A special highlight of the program was the unveiling of the brand identity system for the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac complex of monuments and scenic landscapes world heritage property.

On July 12, 2025, at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Sơn – Kiep Bac complex of monuments and scenic landscapes was officially inscribed on the World Heritage List under criteria (iii) and (vi). UNESCO recognizes the complex as a space directly associated with the formation, development and dissemination of Trúc Lâm Buddhism. Its system of monuments, landscapes, pilgrimage routes and religious practices demonstrates the continued vitality of a cultural and spiritual tradition with far-reaching influence.

Brand identity system for the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Scenic Landscapes World Heritage property.

The UNESCO inscription has brought Con Son – Kiep Bac into a shared interprovincial World Heritage property together with heritage components in Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh, while also setting higher requirements for the preservation, management, interpretation and promotion of the outstanding universal value of the complex.

In 2026, Hai Phong took the lead in coordinating with Quảng Ninh and Bắc Ninh to develop and jointly implement activities to disseminate, educate, promote and introduce the outstanding universal value and the world heritage brand identity system. The unveiling of the brand identity system at this year’s Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival therefore carries special significance, creating a distinctive and unified visual identity for the complex following its UNESCO inscription.

The brand identity system not only contributes to creating a consistent image for the World Heritage property in communications and promotional activities, but also provides a basis for the three localities to jointly introduce its outstanding universal value, develop cultural and tourism products, strengthen connectivity, and promote the heritage’s image to local residents and domestic and international visitors.

Le Ngoc Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee and Head of the city’s National Assembly Delegation, performs the drum-beating ceremony to officially open the festival.

At the opening ceremony, Le Ngoc Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee and Head of the city’s National Assembly Delegation, performed the ceremonial drum-beating ritual, officially opening the Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2026.

The opening drums echoed through the sacred space of Kiep Bac, marking the beginning of this year’s series of festival activities and conveying a message about a heritage region whose values are being carried forward, preserved and promoted in contemporary life.

Reading of the ceremonial text honoring Saint Tran.

Following the opening ceremony, delegates listened to the ceremonial text honoring Saint Trần and took part in the procession of the text and incense-offering ritual at Kiếp Bạc Temple. In a solemn and reverent atmosphere, these traditional rituals continued to affirm the vitality of the worship of Saint Trần and the cultural values preserved by the community over many centuries.

The ceremonial text is carried into the temple.

The Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival 2026 not only opens a series of distinctive cultural and religious activities but also marks a new chapter for the heritage region following its UNESCO inscription. From Con Son – Kiẻp Bac, the historical, cultural and spiritual values of this sacred land in the eastern part of the country continue to spread, contributing to nurturing national pride, raising community awareness of heritage preservation and creating further momentum for the sustainable development of cultural tourism in Hai Phong.