The festival, which traces its roots back hundreds of years is traditionally held come rain or shine on the 9th day of the first lunar month at the Tan Trieu Commune in the Thanh Tri District.

According to the organizers, the unique Con Di Danh Bong dance dates back to around the year 905, when General Phung Hung led a resistance war against China’s Tang troops.

The General decided to pitch camp at the Trieu Khuc Village to allow his soldiers to get some much needed rest and relaxation.

With no women available, he let some of his soldiers dress up like young girls and orchestrated the dance to boost the men’s morale. 

The dance quickly gained in popularity and over the centuries and has become integral to celebrating the lunar new year.

The success of each pair of dancers lies in their ability to be emotionally expressive with their faces, looks and gestures and talent at giving it an aesthetic and authentic quality.

The dance is no longer limited to the annual Trieu Khuc Village Festival but is regularly incorporated into many other large-scale festivals throughout the nation.

The festival also features a number of other traditional dances including the Sinh Tien, unicorn and dragon.

Children perform Sinh Tien dance.

 Local people pray for wealth, luck and success in the new lunar year.

 The festival runs through the 12th day of the first lunar month.