After the festive drum performance, Dang Dinh Hoan, Chairman of Bac Giang city People's Committee and head of the festival’s Organising Committee, delivered the opening speech.

The delegates and local people attend the opening ceremony.

According to historical records, Vinh Nghiem is an ancient and significant Buddhist pagoda, built in the 11th century during the reign of King Ly Thai To, originally called Chuc Thanh Pagoda.

In the 13th century, King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong expanded the pagoda and renamed it Vinh Nghiem, meaning “eternal and solemn”.

Authorised by the Prime Minister, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Phan The Tuan presents the certificate recognising the Truc Lam three-patriarch statuary as a national treasure to representatives of Bac Giang city, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, and Tri Yen commune.

Located in Tri Yen commune, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda holds an important position in the history of Vietnamese Buddhism, having been a place of worship for high-ranking monks.

The three founders of the Truc Lam Buddhist Zen sect—King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, Monk Phap Loa, and Monk Huyen Quang—were ordained at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, using it as the Buddhist centre during the Tran Dynasty, where they trained monks and managed pagodas nationwide.

Chairman of the Bac Giang city People’s Committee Dang Dinh Hoan beats the drum to open the festival.

In addition to its grand and cohesive architectural features, typical of traditional Vietnamese pagodas, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is also famous for its exquisite carvings, particularly in the system of Buddha statues.

These have been regarded by historians and cultural researchers as an outstanding Mahayana Buddhist cultural museum in northern Vietnam.

The Truc Lam three-patriarch statuary.

The pagoda also houses a set of wooden printing blocks consisting of 3,050 pieces, containing nine volumes of ancient texts, which are considered valuable and timeless.

The Vinh Nghiem Pagoda historical and architectural relic site was classified as a special national heritage site, and its woodblocks were recognised by UNESCO as a documentary heritage in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival takes place annually from the 12th to the 14th of the second lunar month and has long been a major cultural event in the region, attracting large crowds of locals and tourists.

The festival features ceremonies praying for national peace and prosperity, good weather, bountiful harvests, and the well-being of all. Additionally, there are cultural activities, sports events, and traditional games showcasing regional cultural identities.

The festival has been included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

During the event, a representative from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced the Prime Minister’s decision recognising the Truc Lam three-patriarch statuary at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda as a national treasure.

The statuary, dating back to the 19th century, consists of three statues featuring the First Patriarch King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, the Second Patriarch Phap Loa, and the Third Patriarch Huyen Quang.

The art performance at the opening ceremony.

According to researchers, the statues are carved from jackfruit wood and remain intact. They are unique, with no replicas found elsewhere, in terms of posture, attire, decorative patterns, and form. They are painted in dark red and gold. This collection is an original, one-of-a-kind artifact, preserved in its entirety.

Authorised by the Prime Minister, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Phan The Tuan presented the certificate of recognition to the representatives of Bac Giang city, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, and Tri Yen commune.

This year’s festival will continue until March 13 with many activities, such as processions, tug-of-war and wrestling competitions, folk games, cultural exchanges, art performances, product exhibitions, and re-enactment of the rural market space, alongside a display of woodblocks.