Hải Dương City: Discover culture and tradition

Hải Dương City offers two distinct focal points for planning a culture-focused trip: the collections at the Hải Dương Provincial Museum and the Đình–Đền Sượt Festival. When deciding, it is important first to consider whether your interests are more focused on museum collections or on a recurring festival date. If you are looking for a hotel in Hải Dương City, you can use this focus as a starting point for planning your schedule.

Collections at the Hải Dương Provincial Museum

The Hải Dương Provincial Museum preserves nearly 50,000 documents and artefacts. Its holdings include collections of Đông Sơn bronzes, Hán-Nôm materials, and ceramics from Chu Đậu and Cù Lao Chàm. The museum is located at 11 Hồng Quang Street in Hải Dương City. The collections named here cover several material groups: bronze, written materials, and ceramics. If you select specific topics for your trip in advance, these groups can serve as different points of interest. The figure of nearly 50,000 gives an indication of the overall size of the holdings, while the object groups highlight individual areas of interest.

Đình–Đền Sượt and its festival

Đình–Đền Sượt was recognised as a tourist destination in 2021; the Đình–Đền Sượt Festival was added to Vietnam’s national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2020. The years refer to different aspects: 2021 relates to the recognition of the site, while 2020 relates to the festival’s inclusion on the intangible cultural heritage list. For your trip planning, these are two separate points of reference: a destination with tourist recognition and a festival with national heritage status.

The traditional Đền–Đình Sượt Festival is maintained and revived each year on the 10th day of the third lunar month. Festival activities include brewing Hoàng tửu, a procession, an offering ceremony, an incense ceremony, and a ceremonial feast. The list brings together different forms of activity: alongside brewing and the feast are a procession and offering and incense ceremonies. If you plan your trip around this festival, the specific day in the lunar calendar is the key planning point. Check the current date and programme before travelling.

Throwing pottery on a wheel

Another activity is offered at the Hải Dương Provincial Museum: traditional pottery throwing on a wheel for school students. This differs from exploring the collected ceramics: here, pottery-making is the activity, while the collection consists of ceramic objects. The target group is specifically school students. If this activity is important to your trip, check in advance whether it is available during your chosen dates.

First, consider whether a specific date, an area of interest, or the composition of your travel group will shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Thạch Lỗi

For the broader travel overview: Hải Dương.