The Keo Pagoda Festival in Hanh Thien Village in the northern province of Nam Dinh is being organised to celebrate the birthday of poet and Zen Master Khong Lo (1016-96), who was a founder of the Keo Pagoda.

The pagoda, which covers an area of 58,000sq.m in Xuan Truong District's Xuan Hong Commune, has 13 buildings with a total of 121 compartments, including 80 compartments of the pagoda's two corridor buildings.

Besides traditional ceremonies, the festival has several folk games, including a unique boat race with several rituals. The difference of this boat race is that all rowers stand rather than sit on the boat. The annual festival will end on October 20. — VNS