A ceremony was held in the northern province of Hai Duong on September21 to commemorate the 713rd anniversary of the passing of national heroTran Hung Dao (1228-1300).

The same day the province also opened the Con Son – Kiep Bac Autumn Festival in memory of the hero.

After attending the festival parade, drum performance and dragondance, local people went to offer incense commemorating the nationalhero at the Nam Tao - Bac Dau temple.

Tran Hung Dao, whose realname is Tran Quoc Tuan, acted as the Supreme Commander of Vietnamduring the Tran Dynasty , leading Vietnamese troops to repel threemajor Mongolian invasions in the 13th century. The Mongols succeededin conquering most of Central Asia and Eastern Europe, but never got afoothold in Dai Viet (as Vietnam was then called).

He died onSeptember 5, 1300 AD at the age of 70. A temple called Kiep Bac wasbuilt in Hai Duong province to dedicate to him.

Covering anarea of more than 8 ha in Chi Linh town, the Con Son – Kiep Bachistorical site is closely associated with the lives and careers of TranHung Dao and writer Nguyen Trai (1380-1442), who was recognised as aGreat Man of Culture of the World.

The area witnessed important battles between the Tran dysnaty army and the Yuan-Mongol invaders.

Con Son – Kiep Bac was recognised as a national heritage site in 1962 and a special national heritage site in 2012.

The Con Son – Kiep Bac spring and autumn festivals have been recognised as national intangible cultural heritage.-VNA