On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the quiet province of Bắc Ninh begins to rumble. It is not the rumble of thunder or the distant roll of drums alone—it is something deeper, more primal. It is the sound of thousands of feet marching in unison, of cheers that rise and fall like waves, of a community calling upon the heavens to witness their faith. This is the Đồng Kỵ Firecracker Procession, one of the most spectacular and visceral festivals in the Vietnamese calendar.
For three days, from the 4th to the 6th of the first lunar month, the village of Đồng Kỵ in Từ Sơn city transforms into a living stage. Here, tradition is not a memory but a present reality, reenacted with a fervor that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year. They come to witness the procession of two giant firecrackers—masterpieces of wood and lacquer, carved with dragons and phoenixes—and to participate in rituals that have been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2016.
To understand the firecrackers, one must first understand the hero they honor. The festival is inextricably linked to the legend of Saint Thiên Cương, a general who served under the sixth Hùng King in the mythological age of Vietnam’s founding.
According to folklore, a man named Cương Công, the son of the Kinh Bắc district prince, distinguished himself in the campaign against the Xiêng Quỷ invaders. His victories were so decisive that the king bestowed upon him the title Thiên Cương. On his way to battle, the general stopped in Đồng Kỵ to recruit soldiers and select his commanders. And on the fourth day of the first lunar month, he ordered his army to march.
As the troops departed, the villagers lit firecrackers and cheered with such thunderous enthusiasm that the sound itself became a weapon—lifting the soldiers’ spirits and striking fear into the hearts of their enemies. After the victory, Thiên Cương returned to Đồng Kỵ to celebrate, and the grateful villagers vowed to reenact the departure each year, forever honoring their patron saint.
At the heart of the festival are two colossal firecrackers, known as Nhất and Nhị. These are not functional explosives—since the state banned real firecrackers, the villagers have transformed them into breathtaking works of art.
Each firecracker is carved from wood, measuring approximately six meters in length and over a meter in diameter, weighing nearly a ton. They are painted in brilliant red and gold, their surfaces adorned with intricate carvings of the four sacred beasts: the dragon (long), the unicorn (lân), the turtle (quy), and the phoenix (phượng). These are not mere decorations; they are symbols of power, longevity, and auspiciousness, embodying the hope for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest in the year ahead.
On the morning of the festival, the village awakens before dawn. By 7 a.m., hundreds of young men—carefully selected for their strength and character—gather at the traditional house. They are the ones who will bear the weight of the firecrackers, and with them, the weight of tradition.
At exactly 9 a.m., the procession begins. More than 1,000 people participate, forming a column that stretches for hundreds of meters. Lion dance troupes leap and spin at the front, their movements warding off evil spirits. Banners of every color snap in the wind. Musicians beat drums and clash cymbals, their rhythms setting the pace for the marchers. And at the center, borne on the shoulders of dozens of men, the two giant firecrackers sway and glide like great ships on a human sea.
The route winds through the village streets, past ancient houses and modern storefronts alike. Thousands of onlookers line the path, many reaching out to touch the firecrackers as they pass—a gesture believed to bring good luck for the coming year. The carriers, stripped to the waist despite the winter chill, shout in unison, their cries replacing the roar of real gunpowder. It is a sound that comes from deep in the chest, from generations of pride, from the very soul of Đồng Kỵ.
After the firecrackers are brought to the communal house, the festival’s most unique ritual begins: the Dô Ông Đám. This ceremony reenacts General Thiên Cương’s selection of his vanguard commander.
Four men, known as Ông Quan Đám, are chosen according to strict criteria. They must be 51 years old, from cultured families with successful children, and free from any recent mourning. Dressed in red headscarves and traditional attire, they are lifted onto the shoulders of young men—shirtless, wearing red shorts, their bodies glistening with effort.
The crowd cheers as the four “officials” are paraded around the courtyard, their bearers jostling and competing. The one who can remain aloft the longest is declared the winner, bringing honor and pride to his hamlet. Throughout the ritual, villagers reach out to touch the officials, believing that contact with these blessed figures will bring prosperity and good fortune.
“It has become a tradition that after each Tết holiday, the people of Đồng Kỵ eagerly participate in the firecracker procession festival,” says Mr. Ngô Quang Huy, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Đồng Nguyên Ward People’s Committee. “It is an indispensable traditional feature in the local cultural and spiritual life.”
The festival is not merely a spectacle; it is a reaffirmation of identity. For the people of Đồng Kỵ, carrying the firecrackers is an honor, a duty, and a joy. It connects them to their ancestors, to their village, to the long story of their nation. The cheers that echo through the streets are the same cheers that encouraged General Thiên Cương’s soldiers millennia ago. The prayers whispered as the firecrackers pass are the same prayers that have risen from this village for generations.
While the firecracker procession is the centerpiece, the festival offers much more. From February 20 to 22 (the 4th to 6th day of the Lunar New Year), Đồng Kỵ hosts a dazzling array of cultural and sporting activities that reflect the rich heritage of the Kinh Bắc region.
Visitors can enjoy volleyball tournaments and Chinese chess competitions, marvel at displays of ornamental plants, and listen to the haunting melodies of Quan Họ folk singing performed on boats. Traditional theater comes alive with Tuồng (classical opera) and Chầu Văn (spiritual singing), their ancient stories and rhythms transporting audiences to another time.
In 2016, the Đồng Kỵ Firecracker Procession Festival was officially inscribed in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This recognition affirms what the people of Đồng Kỵ have always known: that their festival is not merely a local custom but a treasure of national significance.
The designation has brought increased attention and resources for preservation, ensuring that future generations will continue to carry the firecrackers, to perform the Dô Ông Đám ritual, to honor Saint Thiên Cương. The festival is a living museum, a place where history is not studied but experienced, where the past breathes and moves and cheers.
For those fortunate enough to attend, the Đồng Kỵ Firecracker Procession is an experience that engages every sense. The sight of the giant firecrackers, gleaming red and gold, swaying above a sea of people. The sound of drums, cymbals, and thousands of voices raised in unison. The smell of incense mixing with the winter air. The feeling of being part of something ancient and alive.
Visitors are advised to arrive early, as crowds are immense. The procession begins at 9 a.m., but the village comes alive hours before. Dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes—you will be standing and walking for hours. Most importantly, come with an open heart. The people of Đồng Kỵ welcome visitors not as tourists but as participants in their sacred tradition.
As the sun sets on the final day of the festival, the firecrackers are returned to their place of honor. The crowds disperse. The drums fall silent. But something lingers—a feeling, a memory, a hope. The people of Đồng Kỵ have done what their ancestors did before them. They have honored their saint, reenacted his victory, and welcomed the new year with a roar.
The roar will fade, but it will return next year, as it always has, as it always will. The firecrackers will be carried again. The officials will be lifted again. The prayers will be offered again. And for one more spring, Đồng Kỵ will remind Vietnam of the power of tradition, the strength of community, and the enduring human need to celebrate—together, loudly, with all the noise and joy we can muster.
This is the Đồng Kỵ Firecracker Procession. This is the roar that welcomes spring. This is the festival that proves some traditions are too loud to ever fade away.
