Gin Temple Festival In Nam Dinh 2025

The Gin Temple Festival is a celebration held at the Gin Temple in Nam Dinh Province, Vietnam. It honors General Kieu Cong Han, who is credited with helping to defeat the Nam Han invaders. The festival takes place over three days and features offerings made by the people.

About Gin Temple

Gin Temple (also known as Din Temple) is a historical relic of significant architectural and artistic value, recognized nationally by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism since 1962. Historical documents preserved at the site reveal that the temple serves as a place of worship and tribute to General Kieu Cong Han. He played a crucial role in aiding Ngo Quyen to defeat the Southern Han army on the Bach Dang River in 938, marking the beginning of national autonomy.

To honor his contributions, numerous temples have been constructed across various regions. Presently, there are 72 temples dedicated to him, spanning from Phu Tho province to Nam Dinh province. In Nam Truc district alone, there are two notable sites: Gin Temple in Chien Village, Nam Duong commune, and Tay Lac Temple in Dong Son commune.

The Gin Temple Festival is dedicated to honoring the contributions of General Kieu Cong Han

The Gin Temple is a large-scale architectural work with a harmonious design, situated on a campus covering 3,290 square meters. It preserves nearly all of its original architecture in the artistic style of the Later Le period from the 17th to 18th centuries. The temple houses a rich and diverse collection of artifacts, particularly from the Later Le and Nguyen dynasties.

Highlight at the Gin Temple Festival

The event is a cultural celebration renowned for its rich traditions and meaningful rituals.

Customs of the festival

The celebration takes place from the 8th to the 10th of the 12th lunar month, featuring distinctive rituals and folk cultural activities such as palanquin processions, water processions, cheo singing, tom diem performances, and cockfighting. A notable tradition during the festival is the "sacrifice to carp," which commemorates the local legend of residents offering carp salad to General Kieu Cong Han when he was besieged and under attack.

During the Gin Temple Festival, the main ceremony on the 10th day of the lunar calendar stands out as the most significant event. This ceremony features the largest procession of palanquins, the highest number of participants, a full array of products and offerings, and the presence of dignitaries from Nam Duong and Binh Minh communes.

The event is celebrated from the 8th to the 10th of the 12th lunar month

In addition to the solemn rituals, the offerings during the Gin Temple festival stand out due to their unique features, reflecting the deep devotion of the people. The selection and preparation of these offerings are highly elaborate, following stringent rules and regulations throughout the process. Among the offerings are black carp, banh chung, banh day, and the five-color feast and other things.

Activities at the Gin Temple Festival 

The festival, while including a solemn ceremony, is also vibrant and lively, filled with numerous folk games, cultural activities, arts, and sports over its three-day duration. Evenings feature traditional cheo and ca tru singing performances, while daytime activities include wrestling tournaments, human chess matches, and cockfighting. Enthusiastic crowds gather in inner and outer circles to cheer, accompanied by the rhythmic beating of drums.

There are many folk games and cultural activities in this celebration

The Gin Temple Festival in Nam Duong commune of Nam Dinh is a cherished tradition imbued with deep cultural significance. If you travel to Nam Dinh, make sure not to overlook this festival, where you can experience ancient rituals, such as the procession and fish sacrifice, alongside engaging and distinctive competitions.