On April 20, at the Special National Relic Site of Thay Pagoda, the People's Committee of Quoc Oai Commune organized the opening ceremony of the 2026 Thay Pagoda Festival.

The local authorities also launched the Cultural Tourism Week and a space to promote craft village products and local specialties associated with the festival.

Attending the ceremony were Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan, along with representatives of city departments, agencies and a large number of residents and visitors from across the country.

The festival opened with an art program themed "Quoc Oai ignites heritage, spreading excellence," featuring festival drums, lion and dragon dances and vibrant performances recreating the cultural beauty of the Doai region.

In the opening speech, Vice Chairman of the Quoc Oai People's Committee Ngo Van Hung stated that the festival is not only an occasion to commemorate Zen master Tu Dao Hanh, the founder of the pagoda, but also a space to connect the community and preserve and promote traditional cultural values.

The festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2024, affirming its enduring vitality in contemporary life.

A highlight of the festival was the ceremonial drum performance, officially opening the 2026 festival season in a solemn and festive atmosphere.

Following that, delegates pressed the button to launch the Cultural Tourism Week and trade promotion activities, marking the beginning of a series of events connecting culture, tourism and the local economy.

Hung noted that this year's festival stands out for its harmonious combination of traditional cultural activities and trade promotion.

The space for showcasing craft village products and local specialties features numerous OCOP booths, helping introduce brands and expand markets for producers and businesses.

In addition, new activities such as 3D mapping presentations and digital technology applications in heritage experiences have been introduced, giving the festival a modern appearance.

Traditional rituals, including the bathing ceremony, palanquin procession and water puppetry continue to be maintained, preserving the distinctive cultural identity of the Doai region.

The 2026 Thay Pagoda Festival is not only a prominent local cultural event but also contributes to promoting Hanoi's tourism image, gradually turning Quoc Oai into an attractive, friendly and safe cultural tourism destination.

It reaffirms the value of heritage being preserved, promoted and strongly disseminated in modern life.

Within the framework of the festival, on the evening of April 20 at the Thay Pagoda area, the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the People's Committee of Quoc Oai Commune and relevant units, opened the "Cultural Tourism Week: Space for promoting craft village specialties associated with the 2026 festival."

The program features about 100 booths with nearly 60 enterprises and production establishments from many provinces and cities, including Hung Yen, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Lao Cai, Son La, Nghe An, Danang and Khanh Hoa.

The booths are arranged into themed areas such as displays of typical commercial products, promotion of OCOP products and exhibitions of handicrafts and traditional craft village products combined with decorative scenes and check-in spaces for visitors.

Many regional specialties and well-known craft products are showcased, including Northwest agricultural products, Uoc Le pork sausage, Ba Lang fish sauce, Lang Vong green rice, Quang Ninh squid paste, Dong Truong agarwood from Danang and OCOP products such as Ba Vi milk, So village vermicelli and West Lake lotus tea.

There are also distinctive handicrafts such as mother-of-pearl inlay from Chuyen My, Van Phuc silk, Bat Trang ceramics and Phu Vinh bamboo and rattan products, along with essential consumer goods of clear origin.

To support OCOP entities in promoting and selling products, Quoc Oai Commune has established a creative center to introduce OCOP products, serving as a venue to display traditional products and communicate cultural, historical and craft village heritage.

At the opening, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen The Hiep stated that the program is part of a series of 28 activities implemented in 27 communes across the city.

Through this, the program not only promotes rural economic development and supports businesses and cooperatives in expanding markets but also helps effectively tap local strengths and advantages while promoting regional culture, products and people to residents and visitors.

Hiep added that the exhibition space offers a rich experience, allowing visitors to shop while appreciating the creativity and dedication of artisans and businesses.

It also provides an opportunity for producers to understand consumer preferences, improve quality, innovate designs and build brands, contributing to the promotion of high-quality Vietnamese goods.

Beyond trade promotion, the program highlights local culture and tourism potential through activities such as water puppetry at the water pavilion, palanquin processions, wrestling, swing games and human chess.

Visitors can also enjoy the "Quintessence of Tonkin" live performance, explore Sai Son mountain landscapes and experience diverse culinary spaces.

The harmonious combination of commerce, culture, and tourism creates a distinctive highlight for the event, stimulating product consumption, enhancing the local image, and providing momentum for socio-economic development in Hanoi's outskirts.

The Cultural Tourism Week and craft village specialty promotion space at Thay Pagoda takes place from April 20 to April 24, 2026.

The 2026 Thay Pagoda Festival not only serves as a prominent cultural event but also contributes to promoting Hanoi's tourism image, gradually establishing Quoc Oai as an attractive, friendly and safe destination, while affirming the enduring value of heritage in modern life.