Nung Tri Cao Temple Festival in Cao Bang

Nung Tri Cao Temple Festival in Cao Bang

The Nung Tri Cao Temple Festival is a spiritual festival held every year on the 9th day of the first lunar month in Vinh Quang commune, Cao Bang city. It is an occasion for locals and visitors to honor Nung Tri Cao, a leader associated with the resistance against the Song invaders during the Ly dynasty in the Cao Bang region.

Who was Nung Tri Cao

Nung Tri Cao was a leader from the northern border region, recorded as a contemporary who fought alongside An Bien General Hoang Luc – a leader associated with Dinh Phong commune, which also holds its own festival in his honor. Nung Tri Cao’s legacy is tied to the spirit of defending the land and the border shared by Cao Bang’s ethnic communities across the centuries, which is why several places in the province have built temples to honor him.

When and where it takes place

The temple festival is held every year on the 9th day of the first lunar month, in Vinh Quang commune, Cao Bang city. It is one of the spiritual festivals that opens the spring festival season in the province, coinciding with several other early-year festivals in the area.

Cultural significance

The festival gives local people a chance to express gratitude toward the forebears who defended the borderlands, while helping preserve a tradition of honoring historical figures that is fairly common across Cao Bang. It is also a communal spiritual gathering at the start of spring, when people come together to burn incense and pray for a peaceful new year and a good harvest.

Good to know before visiting

Cao Bang has several temples dedicated to Nung Tri Cao in different localities, each holding its own festival on a different date. Before visiting, travelers should confirm the exact address of the temple in Vinh Quang commune, Cao Bang city, to avoid confusing it with other Nung Tri Cao temples in the province.