Dong Bang Temple is known as a sacred temple dating back to the 18th reign of the Hung Kings. The temple bears the royal seal of 'Tam Ky Linh Ung - Vinh Cong Dai Vuong Toi Thuong Dang Linh Than'. According to legend, during the 18th reign of the Hung Kings, our country was invaded by foreign enemies, and the court had to summon the Linh Son Tu spirits to help repel the invaders. At that time, the water deity of Dao Dong Village appeared to assist the king in defeating the invaders and played a key role in guarding the eight gates to the West Sea. He was bestowed the title 'Tran Tay An Tam Ky Linh Ung - Vinh Cong Dai Vuong Toi Thuong Dang Linh Than'. Since then, this place has been a sacred land where people from all directions come to worship.

In the 13th century, Dao Dong Village was also one of the important military defense lines of the Tran dynasty, serving as a military base and training ground for naval warfare. Before going into battle, General Hung Dao Dai Vuong and his generals would come to offer incense and prayers at the temple. After his passing, he was honored by the people here. Since then, Dong Bang Temple has been a place of commemoration for Hung Dao Vuong and the Tran dynasty generals who led three victorious campaigns against the Mongol invaders, establishing the ancient Dao Dong Eight Villages.

Not only does Dong Bang Temple hold significant historical value, but it is also an architectural and artistic heritage site, akin to an art museum featuring bronze, stone, and wooden artifacts covering an area of ​​6,000m2, consisting of 13 buildings, 66 interconnected chambers forming a complex temple structure in a closed 'front-back-end' style, grand and imposing. The architectural elements harmonize with intricate carvings, hundreds of horizontal inscribed boards, couplets, steles, and lacquered and gilded letter scrolls on themes of the four sacred creatures, the four seasons, various incense sets, ancestral altars, dragon thrones, and exquisite wood carvings, meticulously preserved since the reigns of Khai Dinh and Bao Dai.

Due to its legendary stories, historical significance, and artistic value, Dong Bang Temple is renowned as a sacred temple and a place of incense offerings throughout the four seasons. Particularly, in 1986, Dong Bang Temple was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as a National Historical and Cultural Relic, becoming a highlight in Thai Binh tourism.

According to annual customs, the Dong Bang Temple festival lasts about a week from the 20th to the 26th of the 8th lunar month, attracting a large number of devotees, locals, and tourists from far and wide.

The festival includes solemn ceremonies such as deity worship, processions, incense offerings, reenactments of ancient stories of kings and generals fighting invaders, conducted with solemnity, dignity, and reverence. Alongside, the festival features lively activities deeply rooted in folk culture such as poetic singing, tug-of-war, cockfighting, chess, wrestling, among which the most notable is the boat racing tradition.

The boat racing festival in Dao Dong Village was once renowned throughout the region, recently revived and often lasting for 5 days. According to tradition, on the morning of the 21st of the 8th lunar month, a grand procession is held to escort the King and the deities from the temple to Bơi Communal House to inaugurate the boat racing festival, believed to be witnessed by the King and the spirits. On the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of the 8th lunar month, boat racing takes place amid an atmosphere of excitement, attracting a multitude of people and tourists. The boat racing festival is a form of folk cultural activity embodying the good traditional values of a martial and naval tradition, expressing the unity of the people, community cohesion, a cultural beauty carrying both sports and entertainment values. The boat racing festival continues to exist to this day, reminding future generations to remember the great contributions of Hung Dao Dai Vuong and the Tran dynasty generals in the historic victory of Bach Dang.

On the 26th of the 8th lunar month, the festival concludes with a joyous farewell procession conducted to invite the King and the spirits back to the temple. The Dong Bang Temple festival ends with excitement and hopes for a fortunate year ahead."

Source: https://thaibinh.gov.vn/.../den-dong-bang-noi-luu-giu...
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