Published:  10:06 Thursday - November 08, 2012

The Hai Ba Trung (Trung Sisters) Temple Festival is held annually on lunar January 6 in Me Linh Commune, Me Linh District, Hanoi. It is the birthplace of the two sisters Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, two famous Vietnamese heroines who rode elephants to lead their troops to defeat the foreign invaders. Here they proclaimed themselves the new empresses after gaining independence for the country in the early years of Vietnam (40-43AD).

The Festival opens with the procession of the king’s palanquins, fighting-elephants and offerings from the Ha Loi Communal House to the ancient complex of Hai Ba Trung Temple. The procession is held with jubilance and excitement with colourful flags, drumbeats, gongs and musical sounds performed by an octet. The respected elders in the village are selected to beat drums and strong men and beautiful girls carry the two palanquins during the procession. On both sides of the village road, the villagers display their offerings to welcome the procession.

A parade with a fighting elephant statue carrying offerings from Ha Loi Communal House to Hai Ba Trung Temple. Respected elders in the village are selected to beat drums. Girls play the role of soldiers of the Trung Sisters. Villagers display their offerings on both sides of the village road to welcome the procession. The procession of imperial accouterments. Offerings to the Trung Sisters. Village elders participate in the procession to pray for luck and happiness. Besides the ceremonies, the festival consists of many cultural activities, such as wrestling, human chess, lion and dragon dances involving the participation of a large number of villagers.