Lively atmosphere of Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan Communal House

In the final days of the tenth lunar month, Tan Lan Communal House (Tran Bien Ward, Dong Nai Province) comes alive with the resonant beats of drums and a steady flow of people gathering for the Ky Yen Festival, the largest annual festival at this national-level relic site.

Local residents and visitors watch a lion dance performance during the Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan Communal House. Photo: Minh Tai

Beyond faithfully recreating the distinctive cultural setting of a traditional Southern communal house, this year’s Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan Communal House also features a vibrant festive programme, creating a unique highlight that honours and promotes the cultural and spiritual values of the local community in the Tran Bien area.

A festival within urban life

Taking place over two days, December 12 and 13 (corresponding to the 23rd and 24th days of the tenth lunar month), this year’s festival also marks the 305th anniversary of the death of Tran Thuong Xuyen (1720–2025), one of the pioneers who played a significant role in reclaiming and developing the former Bien Hoa region into a prosperous economic area, laying the foundations for agriculture, handicrafts and trade.

According to Lam Van Lang, head of the Ritual Committee of Tan Lan Communal House, to commemorate the contributions of Tran Thuong Xuyen, local residents established a small shrine in the area of the Bien Hoa Citadel around 200 years ago. In 1861, the shrine was relocated to a site opposite the courthouse, beside an old flamboyant tree. In 1906, the shrine was moved again by the Vietnamese and Chinese communities to Tan Lan village, Tran Bien administrative centre, Phuoc Chinh District (now Tran Bien Ward). After several restorations, Tan Lan Communal House has acquired its present dignified appearance.

From early morning on festival days, the communal house grounds are filled with colourful flags and the rhythmic sound of drums. Streams of people arrive in succession: some bringing offerings, others helping with preparations, while many come to watch traditional classical opera performances. Lion, unicorn, and dragon dance troupes from across the province perform one after another in the courtyard, creating an atmosphere that is both solemn and joyful, a hallmark of traditional Southern festivals.

“This year, preparations were carried out early and very carefully thanks to the joint efforts of the ritual committee and local residents. We preserve and practise the traditional rites correctly so that younger generations can better understand and appreciate the values handed down by their ancestors,” Lang shared.

In addition to attracting local residents, this year’s Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan Communal House also welcomes large numbers of visitors, as well as representatives of ritual committees from communal houses and temples both within and outside the province, who come to experience a traditional cultural space in the heart of an urban area.

Ngo Tan Bong, head of the Management Board of Hung Long Communal House Relic Site in Chon Thanh Ward, Dong Nai Province, said that visiting Tan Lan Communal House and witnessing the ceremonial student troupe perform communal rituals in a solemn and well-structured manner allowed him to more deeply appreciate the cultural and spiritual depth of the Tran Bien region. This, he noted, further strengthened his commitment to preserving, safeguarding, and promoting the values that generations of predecessors have painstakingly built and maintained over centuries.

The Tan Lan communal house was classified as a national-level architectural and artistic heritage site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1991. Currently, the system of decorative panels, couplets, reliefs, and sacred objects at the site is still preserved quite intact. It is this ancient atmosphere that makes the annual Ky Yen festival at the communal house even more sacred and solemn.

Cultural and spiritual values preserved and promoted

Held annually, the Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan Communal House is not only an occasion to express gratitude and remembrance for the merits of Tran Thuong Xuyen, but also a space for local residents and visitors to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere and strengthen community bonds. It provides an essential environment for preserving folk art forms such as classical opera, lion dances, and traditional rituals.

Nguyen Van Quyet, PhD and Chairman of the Vietnam–Japan Friendship Association of Dong Nai Province, noted that the Ky Yen Festival at Tan Lan Communal House stands as a vivid testament to the harmonious integration of folk beliefs and the cultural life of the people in the Tran Bien region. Maintaining and enriching the festival, he said, not only preserves ancestral heritage but also helps foster a sustainable and cohesive community lifestyle.

This year’s festival space also records the enthusiastic participation of social organisations, schools, and many young families from within and beyond the province. Many children are brought to the communal house by their parents from an early hour to watch lion dances and learn about traditional rituals. Stories shared by elders and members of the Ritual Committee about the history of the communal house, the contributions of Tran Thuong Xuyen, and early community life during the land reclamation period help nurture a sense of local pride and attachment among younger generations.

With each festival season, cultural and spiritual values continue to be disseminated, contributing to the preservation of Dong Nai's distinctive identity today and for generations to come.

By My Ny – Translated by My Le, Thu Ha