A festival was held at Dong Da cultural park, in Hanoi on Feb.7, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, to mark the 222 nd anniversary of Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da victory over Chinese Qing invaders.
Delegates to the event, including Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Huy Hieu and Deputy Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, offered incense in commemoration of the national hero, Emperor Quang Trung-Nguyen Hue.
In his speech, Chairman of the Dong Da district People’s Committee Tran Duc Hoc highlighted the historical significance of the victory in the spring of 1789 when the Tay Son insurgent army, under the leadership of Nguyen Hue, defeated 290,000 Qing invaders and took back freedom and independence for the nation.
The festival was filled with a unique traditional art performance and other cultural activities, including a dragon dance and martial art performances.
The same day, leaders of Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Committee, People’s Council and the Fatherland Front offered incense and laid wreaths at the monument of Emperor Quang Trung-Nguyen Hue at Ban mountain, Hue city.
The mountain was the place where Nguyen Hue was crowned as Emperor Quang Trung and brought the army to the north to defeat the Qing invaders and free Thang Long citadel.
Some images of the festival:
Drumming in the festival
Dancing is part of the celebration
Invader attacking the people
Reenactment of an attack by invaders
Emperor Quang Trung comes up with his strategy
People fight back against invaders
Victory!
Peace returns
Ritual worship
Spectators find room where they can
The festival is attended by thousands
Statue of the Emperor Quang Trung
Offering up prayer
Toy swords reminder of real battle