The Keo Pagoda Festival was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2017, by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
The festival is held annually from the 10th to the 15th day of the ninth lunar month, to honour Zen Master Khong Lo (1016-1094) – founder of the Keo Pagoda.
It features religious rituals and communal activities, such as Buddhist offerings, palanquin parades, love duet singing on boats, and folk games.
In addition to traditional religious rituals commemorating the Ly Dynasty Buddhist monk, the festival also hosts a variety of cultural activities, that reflect the lifestyle of the Red River Delta’s agricultural communities.
Many folk activities, such as racing shells, trumpets and drums, a performance of a traditional dance, and the preparation of “phoenix-winged” betel quids, are being organised at the festival.
