On the morning of March 23, the People's Committee of Dien Bien District held the opening ceremony of the Ban Phu Citadel Festival 2025 at the Ban Phu Citadel National Historical and Cultural Site in Noong Het Commune.

Dragon dance performance.

Attending the opening ceremony were comrades: Tran Quoc Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Le Thanh Do, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Lo Van Phuong, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mua A Vang; Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee; delegations from Phon Thoong district, Muong May district (Phongsaly province, Lao PDR); Delegates from the provinces: Hoa Binh, Bac Giang, Thai Binh; descendants of Hoang Cong Chat and many ethnic people in the area...

Provincial leaders attended the opening ceremony.

The Ban Phu Citadel Festival 2025 consists of two main parts: the ceremonial section and the festive section. The festival opened with performances rich in folk cultural identity, such as dragon dances and traditional drumming displays. The ceremonial section featured solemn rituals, including a palanquin procession, incense offering, reading of ceremonial texts, and a sacrificial ceremony honoring General Hoang Cong Chat.

The offering procession.

The festive section included various cultural and artistic activities, sports competitions, and traditional folk games...

The epic performance of Hoang Cong Chat, presented by Ha Noi Cheo Theater.

The Ban Phu Citadel Festival is an annual event held on the 24th and 25th days of the second lunar month to commemorate the merits of General Hoang Cong Chat, General Lo Ngai, and General Lo Khanh, along with their righteous army. The festival is also one of the significant activities celebrating: The 271st anniversary of the victory of Hoang Cong Chat’s army in liberating Muong Thanh (1754 – 2025); The 256th anniversary of of the death of General Hoang Cong Chat (1769 – 2025); The 71st anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 – May 7, 2025).

General Hoang Cong Chat, portrayed by an actor from Hanoi Cheo Theater.

Additionally, the festival serves as an opportunity to educate patriotism, promote solidarity, foster national pride, and contribute to the promotion of tourism and the socio-economic development of Dien Bien District in particular and Dien Bien Province in general.

Singing and dancing performance praising the merits of Saint Hoang Cong Chat.

Ceremonial text recitation in honor of General Hoang Cong Chat.

Sacrificial ceremony honoring General Hoang Cong Chat.

A large number of locals and tourists attended the festival./.

Dienbien.gov.vn