Every year, the Tien Pagoda festival, Phu Nghia commune, Lac Thuy district is one of the first major festivals held in Hoa Binh province. The Tien (Fairy) Pagoda Festival usually opens on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year and lasts until the end of the third lunar month. This is a traditional festival with a long history that has entered the subconscious of local people and tourists from near and far, imbued with the distinct cultural identity of the local people in Lac Thuy.

Every year, the Tien Pagoda festival attracts 

a large number of tourists from all over to worship.

 It is called the Tiên (Fairy) Pagoda festival, but this is a common festival for the entire Tien Pagoda relic complex, the main location of which is at the Tien Pagoda. The Tien Pagoda relic complex includes more than 20 relics: historical and cultural relics, scenic relics, and archaeological relics. Each type of monument carries distinct cultural values. Exploring archaeological relics, visitors will learn about Hoa Binh Culture - the culture of the stone age in the history of human development. Coming to historical and cultural relics, visitors will learn and admire traditional architecture, showing respect for the gods worshiped in the relics. Exploring the scenic relics, visitors will be rewarded and explore the magical world of stalactites of creation.

At the festival, special rituals take place. The beginning of the festival is the palanquin procession: the procession of the Three Monsignors from Trinh Temple; Procession of the Holy Mother's palanquin from the Thanh Mau Temple; Procession of the palanquin of the god worshiped in the communal house from the Trung communal house; Ceremony and incense offering at Tien Pagoda. The palanquin is carried on the shoulders of men and women of the Muong ethnic group. The palanquin is carried on the shoulders of faith, respect and many wishes of the local people for a prosperous and happiness.

Along with the solemn ceremonies, visitors will directly participate in the festival and immerse themselves in the joyful and exciting atmosphere of the hospitable Lac Thuy people. The festival includes many folk games of the Muong people such as tug of war, stick pushing, shuttlecock throwing, array playing, performing Muong gong art, singing Muong folk songs.

Many cultural performances with Muong ethnic cultural identity performed at the Tien Pagoda festival

Starting the natural trip, sightseeing around the relic complex by offering incense at Trinh temple to worship the three saints who publicly destroyed the land of Nhuong Lao (now is named Lao Ngoai village). Go to Mother Temple, where mothers are worshiped - an original indigenous belief of the ancient Vietnamese people, according to legend, the person who publicly gave birth to the lineage. Behind the temple is a mountain range with many beautiful caves, in front is the winding Khom stream. Right at the foot of the Temple is Mau Long cave (also known as Mau Au Co cave), in the cave is the residence of Mau Au Co with a bag of hundreds of eggs and Lac Viet bird wings. The cave is divided into three large rooms. The road to Tien Cave has 296 steps winding along the Tung Xe mountain range. Tam Toa Cave has three beautiful, shimmering and magical caves, the cave entrance is open in the middle of the slopes of Roc Dan mountain. From the cave entrance, you can see a panoramic view of the land as beautiful as a watercolor painting. To the left of Tam Toa cave is Linh Son Dia Mau cave worshiping Dia Mau, the creator of this world. On the right is the entrance to the cave of ancient people (Ho cave) containing traces and utensils of ancient Vietnamese people, so it is called cave of ancient people.

People are excited to attend the Fairy Pagoda festival

In 2024, in order to raise people's awareness in preserving and promoting the cultural identities of ethnic groups, encouraging all classes of people to enthusiastically compete in labor and production; In order to introduce and promote the tourism potential of Lac Thuy district in particular as well as Hoa Binh province, the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province is expected to organize the Tien Pagoda Cultural and Tourism Festival in Lac Thuy district in 2024. Ceremony Tien Pagoda Culture - Tourism Festival includes a number of main activities: Opening Ceremony, compete in national sports; folk art exchange program; Organize a spring fair (expected 20 booths).

                                                                                                    Thu Thuy