On the afternoon of September 23, the Hai Phong People’s Committee held a press conference to officially announce details of the 2025 Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival. As the first major cultural event following the city’s recent administrative merger, this year's festival holds deep historical, cultural, and political significance.

Marking historic milestones

The 2025 festival is particularly meaningful as it commemorates the 725th anniversary of the passing of national hero Tran Hung Dao and the 583rd anniversary of global cultural icon Nguyen Trai. It also serves as a celebration of the success of the first Hai Phong Municipal Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term.

Scheduled to run from October 1 to 12 (the 10th to the 21st of the eighth lunar month), this year’s festival is the largest ever organized. Both ceremonial and festive activities have been enhanced in scale and presentation, while maintaining the solemnity and traditional rituals. The Chairman of Hai Phong’s People’s Committee will serve as head of the organizing committee.

A special highlight of this year's event will be the official recognition of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac complex as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. This prestigious designation significantly elevates Hai Phong’s position on the global cultural and tourism map.

Expanded scale, rich programs

Trần Thi Hoang Mai, Director of Hai Phong’s Department of Culture and Sports, shared that the festival’s key date will be October 7 (the 16th day of the eighth lunar month). That day will feature a series of notable events: commemorative ceremonies for Nguyen Trai and Tran Hung Dao, the official opening of the Autumn Festival, the art program “Hai Phong - Essence of the heritage land,” the sacred Tran Saint Seal Opening Ceremony, and the UNESCO World Heritage announcement.

Ceremonies have been standardized and expanded to match the stature of a global heritage site. The festival space stretches from the Kiep Bac temple gate to the Luc Dau River. The art program incorporates various genres - music, dance, circus, and advanced 3D mapping technologies - to vividly recreate the Tran Dynasty's historic victories, particularly those led by Grand Commander Hung Dao Dai Vuong in the Van Kiep region.

Promoting tourism and commerce

Running parallel to the festival is the Culture - Tourism - Trade Promotion Week, which features an expanded exhibition of local and national specialties. Visitors can explore booths showcasing OCOP-certified goods, agricultural products, handicrafts, traditional village wares, and signature cuisines.

In addition to product exhibitions, the event offers live craft demonstrations and traditional folk performances for tourists. The city will also unveil three new tourism offerings during the festival.

Digital technology will play a key role in promoting the event, with the goal of positioning the Con Son - Kiep Bac Autumn Festival not only as a spiritual-cultural celebration but also as Hai Phong’s signature tourism product. Organizers hope this effort will enhance the city’s cultural reputation in this new era of growth.

Bao Khanh