The Giong festival of Phu Dong and Soc temples is celebrated annually in outlying districts of Hanoi, the capital of Viet Nam. Each spring, before the rice harvest, the Viet people honor the mythical hero, god and saint, Thanh Giong, who is credited with defending the country from foreign enemies, and is worshipped as the patron god of the harvest, national peace and family prosperity.
The festival at Phu Dong temple, which takes place in the fourth lunar month in the village of his birth, symbolically re-enacts his feats through the riding of a white horse into battle and the orchestration of an elaborate flag dance to symbolize the battle itself.
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| This year’s festival lasted from May 24-26 (from the seventh to the ninth day of the fourth lunar month) with various traditional unique activities. |
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| The event featured various activities such as offering ceremonies, processions, folk games and traditional art performances. It also symbolically re-enacted Saint Giong’s feats through the orchestration of an elaborate flag dance. The performance ended with the image of Saint Giong flying into the sky. |
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On this day flags are carried from the Mau Temple to the Thuong Temple to sacrifice to the saint. In addition, fighting against the Yin invaders is re-enacted. The battle is elaborately arranged with the roles of Masters (Ong Hieu) such as the Flag Master, the Drum Master, the Gong Master, the Army Master, and the Children Master – the generals of Saint Giong troop which are played by young men and 28 girls play the enemy generals.
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| When Giong was three years old, the country was in danger of foreign invasion. The boy asked the king to forge an iron horse, an armour and a cane for him. Giong turned into a giant, riding the horse and fighting against the aggressors. Finally, after defeating the enemy, he galloped to the Soc Mountain, taking off the armour and flying into the sky. |
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| On the tenth day, there are ceremonies of inspecting battlefield and giving offerings to the Saint Giong. On the eleventh day, the ceremony of cleaning and washing weapons with holy water takes place. On the twelfth day, a flag procession goes to announce the victorious news to heaven and earth. There are also ceremony of giving a feast to the troop and cheo performances celebrating the victory, according to Vietnamtourism.com. |
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| Legend has it that Giong was born very strangely. His mother saw a huge footstep in the field and tried her foot on. Coming back home, she got pregnant and gave birth to a little boy named Giong, who never talked or smiled. |
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| As the largest and unique cultural event of the Red River Delta region, in 2010 the Giong festival was recognised as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). |
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| As the largest and unique cultural event of the Red River Delta region, in 2010 the Giong festival was recognised as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). |
