This year, approximately 7,000 lanterns were lit and released onto the Luc Dau River.

The Peace-Praying Ceremony and Lantern Festival is one of the important rituals of the Con Son–Kiep Bac Autumn Festival. It was revived in 2007 and has since been maintained as part of the annual traditional festival. According to published historical records, the ritual is associated with the historical setting of the Luc Dau River, an area that witnessed numerous victories of the army and people of Dai Viet during the resistance wars against the Mongol-Yuan invasions in the 13th century.

According to traditional spiritual beliefs, the Peace-Praying Ceremony and Lantern Festival represents the harmony between yin and yang. It is an occasion to commemorate heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country throughout history, while also holding prayers for the souls of Tran Dynasty generals and soldiers and those who fell in the resistance wars against the Mongol-Yuan forces on the Luc Dau River.

The lanterns carry wishes for peace, a tranquil country, and a prosperous and happy life for the people.

In the solemn atmosphere of the ceremony, prayers were offered for national peace and prosperity, the well-being of the people, favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and a peaceful and prosperous life for all. The ritual also reflects the Vietnamese tradition of “drinking water, remembering its source”, expressing gratitude to generations of ancestors who contributed to building and defending the country.

The lantern festival in Kiep Bac not only meets the community’s spiritual and religious needs but also represents a distinctive cultural feature of Vietnamese spiritual life. In particular, the ritual of praying for the souls of the deceased reflects traditional beliefs concerning harmony between the realm of the dead and the realm of the living.

A distinctive feature of the ceremony is the construction of a nine-tiered prayer tower within the festival grounds. According to materials provided by the relic management authority, the nine-tiered tower symbolizes an axis connecting and harmonizing heaven and earth, as well as yin and yang. Its decorative motifs bear characteristics of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, reflecting the interweaving and cultural adaptation of different elements of culture and belief throughout history.

Large numbers of local residents and visitors attended this year’s Peace-Praying Ceremony and Lantern Festival.

Following the peace-praying rituals, approximately 7,000 lanterns were lit and released onto the Luc Dau River this year. The ritual conveys wishes for peace, a tranquil country, and a prosperous and happy life for the people, while also expressing remembrance and gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for their homeland and country.

The Peace-Praying Ceremony and Lantern Festival on the Luc Đau River has been identified by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as one of the typical ceremonial and folk performance practices of the Con Son–Kiep Bac Autumn Festival. Together with the Procession of Offerings to the Holy Figure, the Military Review on the Luc Đau River, the Hau Thanh ritual, and the Duc Thanh Tran Seal-Giving Ceremony, among others, the ritual contributes to the rich system of cultural practices associated with the traditional festival of the Van Kiep region.

Maintaining and practicing the ritual within the relic site helps preserve cultural and religious values passed down through generations, while further highlighting the connection between the festival and the nation’s history of building and defending the country. In particular, the Lục Đầu River and Kiếp Bạc area are not only spaces for spiritual and religious practices but also places associated with notable victories of the army and people of Dại Viet under the Tran Dynasty.

Many families brought their young children to the event to help educate them about tradition, foster national pride and gratitude toward previous generations, and raise awareness of the value of the heritage.

The Peace-Praying Ceremony and Lantern Festival is therefore not merely a religious ritual held as part of the festival, but also a cultural activity that helps educate younger generations about tradition, foster pride and gratitude toward previous generations, and raise community awareness of the value of heritage.

The 2026 Con Son–Kiep Bạc Autumn Festival is taking place from September 26 to October 4, featuring a wide range of rituals and cultural, religious, artistic, and heritage-experience activities. This year’s festival is being held in the context of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Scenic Landscapes having been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, creating a need to continue preserving and promoting heritage values in connection with community life and sustainable tourism development.