On the morning of February 19, 2024 (ie January 10, Giáp Thìn (Dragon) year), the Festival Organizing Committee opened the Mạch Tràng Village Festival in 2024.

Mạch Tràng was formerly called Mạch Trường, located next to Cổ Loa Citadel (Outer Citadel). According to legend, King An Dương moved the capital from the northern mountainous region to the plains and established the capital in Cổ Loa, taking advantage of the terrain and topography to build Cổ Loa Citadel, training soldiers to fight against the invading army of Trieu Da. He brought the barley variety here to teach people how to grow and set up a food warehouse for the Âu Lạc country in the village. Later, King Ngô Quyền opened a national school here, so the village was named Mạch Trường, which was later mispronounced by the people as Mạch Tràng and is still called today.

Mạch Tràng village festival is part of the Cổ Loa festival complex, one of eight ancient communes worshiping King An Dương and participating in the Cổ Loa festival (also known as the "eight communes of Loa Thanh" festival), taking place on the main festival day of January 6 every year at Thượng (Upper) Temple (where King An Dương is worshiped), with the participation of the villages: Cổ Loa, Văn Thượng, Mạch Tràng, Sằn Giã, Ngoại Sát, Đài Bi, Cầu Cả and Thư Cưu. However, after the rituals - sacrifices and common folk games of the "eight communes of the family" on the main festival day, each village returns to continue organizing the festival in their village (also known as farewell).

Space for performing rituals

Officials performing rituals

Offerings

Along with the villages of the Eight Communes of Loa Thanh, the folk games at Mạch Tràng village festival are extremely rich and diverse spiritual activities for the people here. Mạch Tràng village festival and Loa Thanh Bát Xã festival have truly brought people together through solemn and dignified rituals and simple folk games.

MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF CỔ LOA VESTIGE SITE