On the evening of February 12, Hai An District solemnly held at the Tu Luong Xam Relic Site in Nam Hai Ward the ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing the Tu Luong Xam Special National Historical Relic Site—Ngo Quyen’s headquarters in 938—and the opening of the 2025 Tu Luong Xam Traditional Festival, commemorating the 1,087th anniversary of the Bach Dang victory and the 1,081st anniversary of the death of King Ngo Quyen.
Central-level attendees included Le Thanh Long, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister; Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and leaders of central ministries and agencies, the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences, and the Vietnam Ngo Family Council.
City attendees included Le Tien Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee and Head of the city’s National Assembly delegation; Nguyen Van Tung, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the city People’s Committee; Do Manh Hien, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; Pham Van Lap, Chairman of the city People’s Council; members of the Standing Committee; leaders of the People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; leaders of departments, sectors, localities, Hai An District, residents, and visitors.
Tu Luong Xam is a sacred site at the sea gate beside the Bach Dang River, associated with the resounding victory of King Ngo Quyen and the Vietnamese people over foreign invaders in 938. Through historical changes, generations of Hai Phong and Hai An residents have worked to build, embellish, preserve, and promote the site’s historical values and the traditional festival.
In 1986, under Decision No. 235/VH-QD dated December 12, 1986, the Ministry of Culture recognized the site as a national historical relic named Tu Luong Xam Historical Relic Site—Ngo Quyen’s headquarters in 938, Nam Hai Commune, An Hai District. It is one of the four sacred temples of ancient An Duong District and now one of Hai An District’s three sacred temples. Among the relics worshiping Ngo Quyen in Hai An, Tu Luong Xam is honored as “Tu Ca,” the foremost place of worship for Ngo Quyen.
The Tu Luong Xam Festival is the largest festival in Hai An District and is held annually from the 14th to the 18th day of the first lunar month. In 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized it as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Thi Thu emphasized that the recognition of the Tu Luong Xam complex as a special national relic and the festival as national intangible heritage was an honor and source of pride. It also placed a major responsibility on the Party committee, authorities, and people of Hai An and the port city to preserve and promote the heritage. Hai An leaders committed to safeguarding these values and making the complex a cultural and spiritual destination that educates present and future generations about patriotism.
Deputy Minister Ho An Phong said Tu Luong Xam was the place Ngo Quyen chose for his headquarters, where he built the Vanh Kieu citadel and commanded the victory over the Southern Han army on the historic Bach Dang River in 938. The relic has a special position among sites worshiping King Ngo Quyen in Hai Phong. Its royal decrees, stone steles, worship objects, and architectural components carved in the styles of the 17th-century Le Trung Hung period and the 19th–20th-century Nguyen dynasty testify to its centuries of history. The festival, held annually from the 16th to the 18th day of the first lunar month, expresses the city’s remembrance and gratitude toward its ancestors and King Ngo Quyen. On January 17, 2025, the Prime Minister issued a decision recognizing the Tu Luong Xam complex as a special national relic. The Deputy Minister asked the city and Hai An District to prepare a master conservation plan, preserve and promote the heritage and festival, continue archaeological research, and improve the surrounding landscape and environment.
King Ngo Quyen is one of Vietnam’s 14 outstanding national heroes and is regarded as the “king above kings” and the “Restorer Ancestor” of the Vietnamese nation. In 938, he led the people to defeat the Southern Han army in the historic battle on the Bach Dang River, ending more than 1,000 years of northern domination and opening a long era of independence and self-rule, followed by the brilliant Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties and the Ho Chi Minh era./.
Source: Hai Phong City Electronic Information Portal