Ba Xa Temple Festival 2025

Ba Xa Temple Festival is a traditional cultural event in the outskirts of Hanoi, reflecting the rich folk beliefs and strong communal spirit of Northern Vietnamese villages. During the festival, the local people organize traditional rituals, cultural activities, artistic performances, and folk games, creating a joyful atmosphere.

An overview of Ba Xa Temple Festival

The Ba Xa Temple Festival is held annually in Ung Hoa Commune, Hanoi, on the 12th day of the sixth lunar month. The local community needs to honor their ancestors and strengthen village bonds.

Origin of the festival

The Ba Xa Temple Festival originates from the tradition of worshipping village guardian deities who protect and support the community. These are divine figures honored for their contributions to founding the village, cultivating the land, and protecting the people. According to local legend, the temple venerates three deities from the Mac lineage, with Mac Trau Trang being especially revered for his pivotal role in settling the Minh Duc area. Over the generations, the temple has become a spiritual center for the community, a sacred place where major rituals are held. The annual festival, especially the grand celebration held every five years, is a continuation of this deep-rooted devotion.

Meaning of festival

The festival is a time for villagers to pay tribute to their ancestors and express gratitude to the gods for peace, good harvests, and community well-being. Ceremonies such as the procession for sacred water, the ritual bathing of the deities, and the main sacrificial rite are held with solemnity. Meanwhile, customs like the calf contest and communal blessing reflect deep spiritual values and a strong sense of collective identity. The festival also offers an opportunity for younger generations to reconnect with their heritage, uphold village traditions, and strengthen the bonds that unite the community.

The ancient Ba Xa Temple rests peacefully in the heart of Minh Duc Village

The tradition associated with the Ba Xa Temple Festival

According to village custom, every five years, the five hamlets of Minh Duc commune jointly organize a grand festival. In preparation, each hamlet raises a healthy, robust calf to participate in a traditional contest. The winning calf is chosen as the main sacrificial offering in the Main Ceremony. It is slaughtered, and the meat is equally distributed among all five hamlets as a communal blessing. This tradition demonstrates the unity and shared spirit among the villagers. It reflects gratitude toward the deities and helps preserve the unique cultural heritage of the Ung Hoa district.

Remarkable rituals of Ba Xa Temple Festival

The ritual component of the Ba Xa Temple Festival is held solemnly, embodying the spiritual traditions of the Red River Delta region. There are three main ceremonies: the Water Procession, the Bathing Ceremony, and the Main Sacrificial Ceremony.

Ritual ceremonies of the Ba Xa Temple Festival

• Water procession ritual

The Water Procession takes place after the five hamlets, in traditional order, escort the sacred palanquins carrying the deities worshipped in their respective villages to the main temple for the festival. Once all five delegations have assembled, the procession officially begins. Following established custom, the five groups proceed one after another to the Nhue River to fetch sacred water. Each group is led by a flag team, followed by musicians, a palanquin carrying incense altars, and another carrying the ceremonial water jar. The jar is wrapped in white cloth with its mouth covered by a red square cloth. At each hamlet’s riverside location, five boats are launched into the river to collect the sacred water, which will then be brought back for the ritual Moc Duc ceremony

Water Procession Ritual in the Ba Xa Temple Festival

• Moc Duc ceremony

Next is the Moc Duc ceremony, performed immediately after the sacred water is returned to the temple. Inside the sacred space, statues of the deities are ritually washed with the river water and dressed in new garments. This act represents spiritual purification and reverence, cleansing the sacred space in preparation for the upcoming ceremonies. The ritual expresses prayers for purity, prosperity, and divine blessings throughout the festival.

• Main sacrificial ceremony

The main sacrificial ceremony takes place at the temple’s main hall and is conducted by respected elders, family representatives, and delegates from all five hamlets. Offerings such as sticky rice, boiled chicken, fruit, and other traditional items are meticulously prepared. The ritual follows time-honored procedures, including incense offering, reciting invocations, and presenting offerings. Formal prayers are then performed for national peace, favorable weather, and a prosperous life for the community. Additionally, families and clans may perform private offerings, reinforcing their bond with the community and the shared worship of the village’s tutelary deity.

The Ba Xa Temple Festival honors village founders, especially Mac Trau Trang, reflecting deep-rooted local worship traditions

Festival activities

Festival activities take place right within the temple grounds and communal courtyard, attracting a large number of residents and visitors from afar. The event opens with vibrant lion and dragon dances, creating an exciting atmosphere for the celebration. Various traditional folk games such as rice bag smashing, water grabbing, cockfighting, and wrestling are held, bringing both fun and a strong sense of community spirit. The festival is also an opportunity for the five hamlets to gather, interact, and together preserve and promote the shared cultural traditions of their homeland across generations.

The festival features dances, folk games, and a countryside fair, celebrating local culture and uniting the five hamlets

The Ba Xa Temple Festival is a time-honored tradition of the five hamlets: Thinh Cau, Thinh Bang, Thinh Than, Thinh Thuong, and Thinh Ha. It allows the people of Minh Duc Commune to express their reverence for the deities and preserve the cultural heritage of Northern Vietnam’s rural villages. Start your journey to Vietnam now and immerse yourself in the sacred atmosphere and rich cultural spirit of this age-old festival in Hanoi.