Ninh Binh culture

Swampland Van Long - Ha Long bay on land in Ninh Binh

The swampland area lies in Gia Vân commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province, at about 100km far from Ha Noi in the South. Nearly 3,500ha large, Vân Long swampland is home to thousands of fauna, flora and aquatic life, on rocks, in land or underwarter.
As sources of statistics, Vân Long has 457 species of high grade botany, 8 of which are listed in Vietnam’s redbook, 39 species of animals, 32 species of amphibian reptiles, 44 fish species, 39 aquatic varieties, 79 insects, especially there are 12 animal species considered rare and precious: 72 units of whiteshort Voọc (one of five in monkey family seen as endangered species), 9 reptiles listed in Vietnam redbook : Ho chua (poisonous snakes), kỳ đà, trăn đất, rắn ráo trâu, tắc kè...). In dry season, Vân Long become winter habitat to many bird species: cò, mòng két, vạc... In May, july, visitors can find nests of lễ hội bird and their eggs in grass.
There are 32 caves and grottoes in Vân Long. Some of them are very ideal for tourists: Cá, Bóng, Rùa... that are from 100 – 250m long. These are mutually linked caves with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. We can take a ride on boat in early morning when it’s still dewy. In a quiet and tranquil atmosphere sometimes, birds are suddenly seen soaring up. We arrive in Kẽm Trăm lake, a boundless lake in the mountain area, it’s really picture square. Cá grotto is the largest and we have to ride across the grasslands, small ponds. Story has it that, one upon a time, there was a man who caught such a big fish that it could only be brought by few men. So the cave was named “fish or Cá”. In the cave, there are varieties of fish: trê, rô, chuối... The cave is about 250m long, half underwater, half on land. It’s said to be millions- year- old and there are lots of stalactites and stalagmites. Vân Long is beautified by ist many high mountains: Mèo Cào, Nghiên, Hòm Sách, Đá Bàn...
Please don’t forget to have a look at 600- year- old fig tree or cay thị and many pagodas: Chi Le, Mai Trung, temple of Nguyen lord, Đich Long and the temples of king Đinh Tiên Hoàng, temples to worship Thánh Nguyễn and 4 ladies (4 woman- generals of Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị).

Water pupetry Vietnam in Ninh Binh

Water pupetry is Vietnam age-old traditional culture with its own indenties. The stage is the water surface, the closed-door house or puppets’s house or Thuy Dinh (pagoda on water) is built in the middle of the pond or lake that looks like a communal house in Vietnam countyside.
The items to be played depict people’s dailylife activities or customs and habits. To have a finished puppet, it needs time and patience for chiseling. fitting, painting, decorating and dressing. The well-prepared puppets, the easier for controlling and the more interesting the performance is. Normally, puppets are made of sycamore wood because it’s light and tough. Finished puppets are vitalized by artists in harmony with characters in the play. Water puppets are traditional wooden carving, they are both realistic, poetic and romantic in roles of fishermen, fairies or musicians... Each puppet consists two parts: the body and the base. The underwater part for controlling. Most important is the control-board attached in the base and cuccess lies in the movements, the action of puppets. Well-experienced artists have created for life, for younger generations variety of puppets and the control-boards. Puppets are controlled and directed by artists in the puppets’ house by pulling, pushing strings.
In water puppetry, music plays the vital part. With outdoor stage on water and no-word play except few poems or saying, music is inseparable, it’s to make merry the performance, to personify the characters, and to direct the acting.
Water-puppetry is a cultural tradition of the red river delta farming people. It helps the locals to preserve their villages’ identities, the nature of the farmers who are vety hard-working and high-spirit in fighting against the enemy.

Thai Vi Temple Festival

The festival is organized annually on the 14th -17th of March of the lunar calendar in Van Lam village, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district. It has the purpose of commemorating King Tran – who was a credit to the nation.
The worshipping part is carried out in two ways, namely the procession and the sacrifice. The procession is performed by over 30 teams coming from communes in Hoa Lu district and others within the province.
After procession, sacrifice is implemented. Sacrifice is an important ceremonial hold in front of the temple.
The entertainment is a jolly time for people and festival guests as it includes kylin dancing and the dragon dance, playing human chess, wrestling, rowing, etc.

Nguyen Cong Tru Temple Festival

The festival is held in three days, annually on the 13th -15th of November of the lunar calendar in Nguyen Cong Tru temple in Quang Thien commune, Kim Son district. On the 13th of the lunar calendar, worshipping “yet cao”, on the 14th worshipping “chinh ky”, on the 15th worshipping “ta”. The form of “te” (worshipping) is the same as in other festival.
During the festival, a woman will come to sing with « dan day »(a kind of traditional guitar) and a simple pair of « phach » (castanets).
The festival guests will be given a cash bonus for interesting singings and a good voice.
The second rank doctor Pham Van Nghi had written « Funeral oration for Nguyen Cong Tru » to read on the worshipping ceremony.
Entertainment activities include some folk games such as : kylin dance, westling competition and a swimming competition on the An River.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Festival

The festival is held annually on the 10th -13th of March of the lunar calendar in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district with the purpose of commemorating the two kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh.
The festival includes two parts:
Worshiping: includes water procession at Truong Yen water station located on Hoang Long river and worship at the two temples of King Dinh tomb and King Le.
Entertainment activities: Performing "Co lau tap tran", competing in writing Han script, playing chess, performing dragon dance, etc.