NINH BÌNH — Numerous events will take place in the northern province of Ninh Bình from April 24-27 to mark the 1,050th anniversary of the establishment of Đại Cồ Việt, Việt Nam’s first feudal state.

Hoa Lư Festival this year will be organised with more cultural activities than ever to mark the day Emperor Đinh Tiên Hoàng declared the country Đại Cồ Việt in 968.

The capital of Đại Cồ Việt is located in Hoa Lư, now part of Ninh Bình Province.

The events will provide people with a better understanding of the role and historic values of Đại Cồ Việt and promote the signature cultural and natural beauties of Hoa Lư ancient capital, according to Phạm Quang Ngọc, vice chairman of the festival organising board.

Long ago: An art performance reflecting the resistance led by Đinh Tiên Hoàng to establish the first feudal state of Đại Cồ Việt. — Photo courtesy of the organising board

“Through the festival, we encourage people to learn more about the history and evoke patriotism and national pride,” he said.

The activities will include cultural exchanges between the former Vietnamese imperial capitals and other provinces like Bạc Liêu, Tuyên Quang and Cà Mau as well as Asan, a city in the Republic of Korea, and Oudomxay Province in Laos.

A workshop will also be held to discuss the role of the Đại Cồ Việt Empire in the history of Việt Nam.

Colourful costumes: An art performance reflecting the resistance led by Đinh Tiên Hoàng to establish the first feudal state of Đại Cồ Việt. — Photo courtesy of the organising board

This year, Ninh Bình Province will publish books on local intangible cultural heritages and the province’s socio-economic development from 2015-2018, host the beauty pageant Miss Hoa Lư and, for the first time, organise a local tourism week promoting the beauty of the Tam Cốc and Tràng An complexes.

On this occasion, a photo exhibition will feature the beauty of the local people and landscape, popular songs and dances and various temple festivals in the region.

Đại Cồ Việt (Great Việt) was the first centralised feudal state in Việt Nam which existed from 968 to 1010 AD. It was also the native land of three royal dynasties: Đinh, the Early Lê and Lý. Hoa Lư was the first capital of the country until King Lý Thái Tổ moved the capital to Thăng Long (the former name of Hà Nội) in 1010. — VNS