On the evening of February 12, at the Tu Luong Xam Relic Site (Nam Hai Ward), Hai An District solemnly held a ceremony to receive the Certificate recognizing the Tu Luong Xam Area – Headquarters of Ngo Quyen in 938 – as a Special National Historical Relic, and to inaugurate the 2025 Tu Luong Xam Traditional Festival, commemorating the 1,087th anniversary of the Bach Dang victory and the 1,081st anniversary of the death of King Ngo Quyen.
Attending the ceremony at the central level were Mr. Le Thanh Long, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister; Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; along with leaders from central ministries, the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences, and the Ngo family council of Vietnam.
On the city level, the event was attended by Mr. Le Tien Chau, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee, and Head of the Hai Phong National Assembly delegation; Mr. Nguyen Van Tung, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee; Mr. Do Manh Hien, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; Mr. Pham Van Lap, Chairman of the City People's Council; along with other members of the Party Standing Committee, leaders of the City People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Fatherland Front, departments and localities, Hai An District leaders, and a large number of local residents and visitors.
The traditional procession ceremony is a sacred and important ritual of the Tu Luong Xam festival.
Tu Luong Xam is a sacred coastal site located by the Bach Dang River, closely linked to the glorious victory of King Ngo Quyen and the nation in resisting foreign invaders in 938. Through the ups and downs of history, this place has witnessed the tireless efforts of generations of Hai Phong and Hai An people in preserving, restoring, and promoting the historical value of the relic and its traditional festival — a proud part of the cultural and historical heritage of the Port City.
In 1986, under Decision No. 235/VH-QĐ dated December 12, 1986, the Ministry of Culture (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) ranked the site as a National Historical Relic under the name: “Tu Luong Xam Area – Headquarters of Ngo Quyen in 938”, located in Nam Hai Commune, An Hai District. It was one of the "Four Sacred Temples" of the old An Duong District, and is now one of the three "sacred temples" of Hai An District (including Tu Luong Xam, Thuong Doan Shrine, and Phu Xa Temple). Among the sites worshipping Ngo Quyen in Hai An District, Tu Luong Xam is honored as the “Từ Cả” – the primary temple dedicated to Ngo Quyen.
The Tu Luong Xam Festival is the largest-scale festival in Hai An District, held annually from the 14th to 18th days of the first lunar month. In 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized the traditional Tu Luong Xam Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In her speech, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu – Secretary of Hai An District Party Committee – emphasized that the Government’s recognition of the Tu Luong Xam site as a Special National Historical Relic and its festival as a National Intangible Heritage is a great honor and pride. At the same time, it imposes a significant responsibility on the Party, government, and people of Hai An District in particular, and Hai Phong City in general, to preserve and promote the value of the site and its heritage. The district’s leadership pledged to continue efforts to protect and enhance the value of the site so that it remains a lasting spiritual and cultural address that nurtures patriotism in current and future generations.
In his speech, Deputy Minister Ho An Phong emphasized that Tu Luong Xam is the site chosen by Ngo Quyen to establish his headquarters, construct the Vanh Kieu ramparts, and command the historic battle that defeated the Southern Han invaders on the Bach Dang River in 938. The relic holds a special place in the system of sites dedicated to King Ngo Quyen in Hai Phong. Alongside numerous artifacts such as imperial decrees, stone steles, sacred objects, and architectural components with the artistic style of the Le Trung Hung period (17th century) and the Nguyen Dynasty (19th–20th centuries), the site bears witness to centuries of history and cultural development. It has become a unique cultural destination for the local community.
The annual Tu Luong Xam Festival, held from the 16th to 18th of the first lunar month, expresses the people's devotion, remembrance, and reverence for King Ngo Quyen. With its outstanding cultural values, on January 17, 2025, the Prime Minister issued the decision to recognize the Tu Luong Xam Complex – Headquarters of King Ngo Quyen in 938 – as a Special National Historical Relic.
The Deputy Minister called upon the city and Hai An District to develop a comprehensive conservation master plan, implement a heritage conservation and promotion project for the Tu Luong Xam Festival, and continue researching and conducting archaeological excavations to further clarify the site's historical value while improving its landscape and environment to create a complete cultural space.
King Ngo Quyen is one of Vietnam’s 14 national heroes and is revered as the "king of kings" and the "Founding Father of National Restoration." In 938, he led the people to defeat the Southern Han army in the historic Bach Dang River battle, ending over 1,000 years of Chinese domination and ushering in a long era of national independence and sovereignty, laying the foundation for the brilliant dynasties of Ly, Tran, and Le, continuing into the Ho Chi Minh era.