Previously, Cầu Cả was also called Cầu Kỳ. Legend has it that in the past, this place was one of eight towns protecting Cổ Loa citadel from the outside, guarded by general Lý Tâm Viễn. According to folklore, the reason it is called Cầu Cả is because the village is located right next to the ancient Hòang Giang River, where there was a bridge across the river (May Bridge - Ngũ Nguyệt Kiều).

Cầu Cả village festival is held at Cầu Cả village communal house, on January 11 every year. The Communal House is a traditional religious architecture built as a place to worship King An Dương, king of Âu Lạc country and the village's tutelary god.

The ritual taking place at the Cầu Cả festival is almost the same as at the Bát xã Loa Thành festival through 71 chants and the first chant is “khởi chinh cổ” and the last chant is “lễ tất”. The ceremony is divided into three stages: Sơ hiến, Á hiến and Trung hiến called “Tam hiến” (“hiến” is offering wine). The worship lineup includes 27 elders, including: one celebrant “Sơ hiến”, two “Á hiến” and “Trung hiến”, two “Đông-Tây xướng”, eight “bồi bái” (worship assistants), two “củ soát” (one wine holder, one candle holder), two “đọc chúc” (read the oration) and “phủng chúc” (bring the oration), six “phủng tước” men, that is wine, water and flowers, two men receive offerings in the sanctuary, four “thủ hiệu” of which two are leading the offerings, two are playing drum and gong.

Cầu Cả Village Festival has many rich and exciting folk game activities that attract a large number of people to participate such as: cockfighting, air volleyball, tug of war, and exercise for the elderly.

Cockfighting Game

Volleyball Competition

The festivals in Cầu Cả village have contributed to responding to and prolonging the spring festivals of the relics worshiping King An Dương on the historical land of Cổ Loa.

MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF CỔ LOA VESTIGE SITE