Thousands attended a festival marking the 226th anniversary of the Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da victory, held yesterday at the Dong Da Park in Ha Noi. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Ha

HA NOI (VNS) — A festival was held at the Dong Da Park in Ha Noi yesterday, to mark the 226th anniversary of the Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da victory over the Chinese Qing invaders.

The victorious battle had been led by national hero Nguyen Hue (also known as Emperor Quang Trung).

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi and representatives of ministries, local departments and thousands of local people took part in the event.

The festival included an incense-offering ceremony, a procession featuring Emperor Quang Trung's palanquin and a range of artistic performances in memory of him and Tay Son soldiers.

Dong Da Hill, located in a park in Ha Noi, had reportedly witnessed fierce battles between Emperor Quang Trung's soldiers and the Chinese invaders on the fifth day of the first lunar month.

The festival at the park aims to uphold the country's cultural values, while educating the young generation.

"The annual festival is organised every year to pay homage to the great victory of Emperor Quang Trung, and to teach the tradition of patriotism and national pride to the capital's young generation," said Chairman of Dong Da District's People's Committee Nguyen Song Hao at the festival.

In the early spring of 1789, Nguyen Hue – who was later proclaimed Emperor Quang Trung – led his troops from the Hue imperial palace to Ha Noi, which was then occupied by the Qing army.

He launched a surprise attack and defeated more than 29,000 invading soldiers in a battle on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.

The victory of Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da has gone down in Vietnamese history as an immortal and epic struggle for national construction and defence.

On this occasion, a 700sqm temple to worship Emperor Quang Trung, located in the Dong Da Park, was inaugurated yesterday.

Festival in Binh Dinh

On Sunday, thousands of people from across the country flocked to the Quang Trung Museum in Tay Son District, the central province of Binh Dinh, to participate in a festival marking the anniversary of the Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da victory.

The province is known as the birthplace of the national hero.

The festival opened with an incense and flower-offering ceremony in commemoration of the Emperor and his soldiers.

A series of cultural, artistic and sports activities and martial arts performances have been taking place since Sunday, or the fourth day of the first lunar month.

A representative of the culture ministry, authorities of the Binh Dinh province and thousands of people attended the event.

Over the past several years, the province has invested hundreds of billions of dong to upgrade the Quang Trung Museum, the tombs of generals and soldiers of the Tay Son dynasty.

On this occasion, the province received a certificate from the culture ministry, recognising the Quang Trung Museum as a national relic. — VNS