Nearly 20,000 visitors rushed to a festival to mark the 1,973 rdanniversary of the two Trung sisters’ uprising in Hanoi’s outlyingdistrict of Me Linh on February 15, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

The event, which will run until February 19,honours Trung Trac and Trung Nhi who formed an army to revolt againstthe Han Chinese invaders. They succeeded in regaining independence forthe country, which had been under foreign feudal rule for more than twocenturies.

Following a procession and rituals, folk games and music performances got underway.

The same day, in the outlying district of Soc Son, the traditional SocSon temple festival, known as Giong festival, commenced to commemorateSaint Giong who sacrificed his life fighting En invaders from the north.

The event, with offering rituals and folk games, will run until February 17.

The annual Co Loa festival also got underway, paying tribute to KingAn Duong Vuong , who founded the Au Lac Kingdom and Co Loa spiralcitadel in the fight against invaders.

Meanwhile, thousands of revellers took part in the opening of the TichDien–Doi Son festival in Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province.

The annual event originates from the Le dynasty, whenin 987, King Le Dai Hanh decided to plough in Doi Son commune, Duy Tiendistrict, to wish for bumper crops.
In celebration of theLunar New Year, the Thien Truong Antiques Association and the UNESCOclub displayed nearly 1,000 artifacts in the provincial Nam Dinhmuseum.

Exhibits include ceramics, wooden and iron items that date back to the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties.-VNA