Thirteen Camp Festival

Thirteen Camp Festival Time: March 23 of the lunar calendar Location: Bach Thao Park, Ngoc Ha Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City. Object of worship: Nguyen Quy Cong from Le Mat village,  who built 13 villages. Thap Tam Trai Festival is a big festival of 13 villages in Ba Dinh district, to commemorate Nguyen Quy Cong, a native of Le Mat village, now in Viet Hung ward, Long Bien district, who publicly reclaimed the wasteland west of Thang Long capital, creating a rich agricultural area near the capital with the landmark Thap Tam Trai. After Nguyen Quy Cong passed away, the villagers of Le Mat and the people of Thap Tam Trai were grateful to the person who had the merit of opening the land and worshiped him as the Tutelary God. Every year, the people of the above wards organize commemorations on the birthday and transformation day of the village Tutelary God who was instrumental in opening up land and bringing a prosperous and peaceful life to the people. The procession included 13 villages: Vinh Phuc, Lieu Giai, Cong Vi, Ngoc Ha, Huu Tiep, Kim Ma, Xuan Bieu, Thu Le, Van Phuc, Ngoc Khanh, Dai Yen, Giang Vo, Cong Yen, besides the participation of Le Mat village, Long Bien district, Hao Nam farm village, O Cho Dua ward, Dong Da district... The festival starts at 8 am with a parade in front of the stage. Leading is the drum team and flag team, followed by the ceremonial flag team and the masses holding flower flags, followed by a palanquin procession, dancing and singing in order of 13 villages with elders, young men and women in traditional ceremonial clothes. The group will process through the gate of Ngoc Ha village, march on Ngoc Ha - Hoang Hoa Tham street and go around the lake in Bach Thao. The festival has also been expanded with many special performances such as a nourishing fan dance performance performed by 100 elderly women. The program will be followed by a martial arts performance with 100 martial arts students performing. At the end of the parade performance is the Ngu Long (5 dragons) performance with full colorful dancing and beautiful performances. In the festival program, folk games such as human chess, cockfighting, clay pot smashing, and bamboo swinging are also indispensable. Many activities such as contests, bonsai displays, fruit trays, folk song performances on boats, ca tru, folk songs, cheo singing. The last performance that ended the festival was also the performance that everyone watched the most and enjoyed the most, the performance "Snake killing" of Le Mat village. The Thirteen Camps Festival is not only a local celebration to honor and remember the merits of those who have contributed to the people. It is also a place to educate the tradition of "Drinking water, remember its source", cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs. It is also an opportunity to review the history of building the village full of hardships and challenges, contributing to exchanges and promoting community relationships of the 13 farming villages, the attachment to the homeland, the land where diligent people were born and giving them courage imbued with the Thang Long tradition. – Hanoi. The Thirteen Trai Festival in Ba Dinh district is a traditional and contemporary cultural and artistic event that attracts a large number of people to directly participate, vividly express and enjoy culture.