The Hai Ba Trung Festival is a celebration of the two Trung sisters, who led a heroic uprising against the Chinese domination in the first century. The festival is held in various places, such as Hat Mon Temple (Hanoi), Ha Loi Temple (Vinh Phuc), and Dong Nhan Temple (Hanoi). The Trung sisters’ rebellion lasted for three years before it was suppressed, but it left a lasting legacy of patriotism and resistance for the Vietnamese people.

The Hai Ba Trung Festival takes place from the 3rd to the 6th day of the second lunar month. On the 3rd day, the festival begins with the ritual of opening the temple’s door. On the 4th day, there is a funeral ceremony for the sisters. The 5th day is the main day of the festival, which includes a statue-bathing ceremony, a woman-officer worshipping ceremony, and a candlelight dance. On the 6th day, there is a vegetarian diet ceremony. The rituals are performed by elderly women, following the ancient traditions.

The statue-bathing ceremony is the most important part of the festival. In the early morning, a procession of young men carrying lacquered and gilded palanquins with the statues of the sisters inside, accompanied by older men and a music band, moves solemnly from the temple to the Red River. There, they wash the statues with water from the river, symbolizing their respect and gratitude for the sisters’ sacrifice.