Festival of the fake king and lord procession at Sai Temple - Heritage journey

Every year, the festival of the fake king procession in Thuy Loi village (Thuy Lam commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi) is held on February 7-8 (January 10-11).

Thousands of people and tourists from all over the country enthusiastically participated in the festival of carrying the king's palanquin and the living lord's palanquin at Sai Temple.

On February 8 (January 11), at Sai Temple (Thuy Lam Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi ), a unique procession of fake kings and fake lords took place, the only one in the country.

This year, the person who plays the role of King Thuc Phan An Duong Vuong is Mr. Nguyen Huu Ba (73 years old).

The master (Thanh Giang Su) is Mr. Truong Dang Cuong (72 years old).

During the procession, the king's palanquin was carried by young men in turns. Every few minutes, there was a ritual of turning and running the palanquin. Each time, the king, sitting on the high palanquin, brandished his sword to show his power.

The festival originated from the time when An Duong Vuong built Co Loa citadel, which was helped by fairies who came down to earth every night to carry soil to build it, but the rooster ghost imitated the sound of a rooster crowing in the morning, making the fairies give up and fly back to heaven, so the citadel was never completed.

Thanks to the help of Huyen Thien Tran Vu who destroyed the white chicken ghost hiding in That Dieu Son, Co Loa citadel was completed.

The person honored by the villagers to play the role of king was Mr. Nguyen Huu Ba - a prestigious elder in the village.

The Lord's palanquin spinning performance at the festival

On the way of the palanquin procession from Sai Temple to Thuy Loi Temple, the king and lord will throw money as a blessing to the people and festival participants.

People standing on both sides of the road wished that the blessings of the lord and king would bring peace to everyone.

In the procession, in front of the palanquins are bands, drums, gongs, flags and umbrellas, dancers performing graceful and eye-catching dances, along with a small army of soldiers who are the grandchildren of those chosen to be kings, lords or mandarins.

The festival's legend originates from the time when An Duong Vuong built Co Loa citadel. Every night, fairies came down to earth to help carry soil to build it, but the rooster ghost imitated the sound of a rooster crowing in the morning, making the fairies give up and fly back to heaven, so the citadel was never completed.

Besides the king and lord, the people of Thuy Loi also carried palanquins carrying four mandarins: the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Advisor, the Imperial Commander and the Imperial Guard, along with their wives and children. The Imperial Guard chosen this year was Mr. Ngo Trong Bi (68 years old).

The Governor is Mr. Nguyen Huu Loi (68 years old).

The Commander is Mr. Le Quang Thuan (68 years old).

The Governor is Mr. Ngo Huu Tuyen (68 years old).

Sharing at the Festival, Vice Chairman of Dong Anh District People's Committee Nguyen Thi Tam said that Spring At Ty 2025 is a special spring, the first spring that Dong Anh district and Hanoi Capital implement the Hanoi Capital Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, vision to 2050 with a new vision, new global thinking, Capital thinking and Hanoi action, creating new opportunities, new values. The heritage journey to Sai Temple, to the unique King Procession Festival demonstrates community solidarity with traditional cultural features left from thousands of years ago...

Vice Chairman of Dong Anh District People's Committee Nguyen Thi Tam

Duc Hiep