Bắc Ninh: Pagodas, Festivals and Handicrafts

Bắc Ninh can be explored through its pagodas and temple complexes, annual festivals, and traditional pottery and folk painting. These places offer different cultural highlights, from the long history of Dâu Pagoda to the Lý Dynasty temple complex and folk paintings from Đông Hồ.

Pagodas and History

Dâu Pagoda, also known as Diên Ứng or Pháp Vân, is located in Phường Trí Quả. Its recorded history stretches back nearly 2,000 years; construction began in the 2nd century AD. The pagoda stands at the center of ancient Luy Lâu, an important hub of trade and cultural exchange between India, China and Vietnam. Since 2013, it has been recognized as a national special-grade monument.

The complex of tombs and the temple of the Lý Dynasty is located in Phường Từ Sơn and was recognized as a national special-grade monument in 2014. It includes the Sơn lăng cấm địa tomb area and Đền Đô, where eight kings of the Lý Dynasty are worshipped. The complex thus brings together a tomb area and a temple dedicated to the kings.

Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda is a center of Trúc Lâm Buddhist culture and historically served as a training center for monks. It preserves 3,050 Buddhist woodblock printing blocks with nine book titles. In 2012, these were recognized as documentary heritage by the Memory of the World Programme for the Asia-Pacific region. In a broader context, Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda and Bổ Đà Pagoda are the two sites in Bắc Ninh included in the Yên Tử–Vĩnh Nghiêm–Côn Sơn–Kiếp Bạc World Heritage site. This comprises a connected series of twelve sites in Quảng Ninh, Bắc Ninh and Hải Phòng.

Bút Tháp Pagoda, also known as Ninh Phúc tự, is also located in Phường Trí Quả, on the south bank of the Đuống River. It is regarded as one of the old and well-known pagodas featuring exemplary Buddhist architecture from the Lê-Trung-Hưng period. Phật Tích Pagoda was founded under the Lý Dynasty and is situated on the slope of Phật Tích Mountain.

Festivals and Quan họ

Festival dates follow the lunar calendar. The Bút Tháp Pagoda Festival is held annually on the 23rd and 24th days of the third lunar month. Its program includes Quan họ singing, the release of doves, chess and water puppetry, as well as other cultural, artistic and sporting activities. The Đền Đô Festival also takes place in the third lunar month, from the 14th to the 16th day. It includes worship rituals, a palanquin procession, lion dancing, martial arts and Quan họ performances on boats.

The Dâu Pagoda Festival is held annually on the 8th and 9th days of the fourth lunar month. The pagoda is its focal point; the festival extends across a network of Tứ Pháp pagodas and Chùa Tổ. The three dates therefore differ both in their position in the lunar calendar and in their festival locations. Quan họ folk songs are practiced in the provinces of Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang; performances are part of the programs at the Bút Tháp and Đền Đô festivals. Check the lunar-date conversion for the relevant year if you want to plan your travel around a festival.

Pottery, Folk Paintings and Local Specialties

Traditional wood-fired kilns are still used in the pottery village of Phù Lãng in Quế Võ District. The village of Đông Hồ in Song Hồ Commune is associated with the traditional production of Đông Hồ folk paintings. Its village festival is held every year and gives artisans an opportunity to exchange ideas about the art of painting. Picture markets are also held there throughout the year, where visitors can buy Đông Hồ folk paintings as souvenirs. The festival thus provides an opportunity for artisans to share ideas, while the markets make it possible to buy the paintings; individual market dates may vary.

One specialty to enjoy during a visit to Đền Đô is Bánh phu thê Đình Bảng. This pastry is made from glutinous rice, mung beans, coconut and sugar. Availability may vary during your visit.

Lunar dates should be recalculated each year; it is also worth checking the exact dates of the picture markets.

Discover more destinations: Do Nha, Đình Cao, Thành phố Bắc Ninh, Bến Tre, Tây Ninh, Thua Thien-Hue, Hưng Yên, Hà Giang.

See the main travel overview: Vietnam.