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As the year begins, numerous traditional festivals draw crowds to celebrate spring. Archival photographs from a century ago capture the vibrant atmosphere of these events, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of the people.
An elephant statue is seen being brought out in front of the temple gate for a procession during the Hai Ba Trung Temple festival. *French National Overseas Archives*.
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A scene in the courtyard of Hai Ba Trung Temple. Inside, dignitaries are performing rituals before the altar. *French National Overseas Archives*.
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The procession prepares to depart from the temple courtyard. *French National Overseas Archives*.
The Hai Ba Trung Temple festival commences on the 6th day of Tet in Ha Loi village, Me Linh district (now Me Linh commune). This event honors the contributions of the two national heroes, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi. In 2018, the festival was inscribed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
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Children holding flags stand along the entrance to the sanctuary. *French National Overseas Archives*.
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The Red River wharf near Hai Ba Trung Temple was bustling with pilgrims in the 1920s. *French National Overseas Archives*.
According to records from the Department of Cultural Heritage, the temple is deeply intertwined with the cultural and religious life of the community, embodying the Ha Loi residents' tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source" (a Vietnamese idiom signifying gratitude). The site received recognition as a special national relic in 2013.
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A bustling scene at Duc wharf during the Huong Pagoda festival in 1927. *National Archives Center I*.
The Huong Pagoda festival, held in Huong Son commune, typically opens on the 6th day of the first lunar month and extends until late March of the lunar calendar. This event showcases a variety of cultural activities, including: boat racing, mountain climbing, Cheo folk opera performances, and Van singing. During the festival, pilgrims from across the country converge to participate in religious observances and Buddhist rituals.
French photographer Leon Busy captured pilgrims making their way to Huong Tich Cave over 100 years ago. *Albert Kahn Museum*.
Phuong Linh
