Afternoon Excursion: Bá Dương Nội Village annual kite flying festival- spaces available

THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT IN THE FVH CALENDAR

Bá Dương Nội village is a 1,000 year-old kite making village on the Red River on the outskirts of Hanoi. Generations  of villagers have kept this tradition alive. The kites are shaped as crescent moons or boats, with wooden flutes attached. The wind passes through the flutes making haunting melodies.  The village dates back to the 10^th century Dinh Dynasty. Bá Dương Nội has a reputation as one of Vietnam’s main kite flying centres.

The village annual kite festival his held on the 15^th day of the 3^rd Lunar month – this year = Tuesday 23 April 2024 solar calendar.

The festivities are over a number of days culminating on the last day (15th of 3rd lunar month) with the adult kite festival. This is when we attend.  The festival attracts competitors from all round Vietnam. and usually we are the only visitors who attend which keeps it lovely and local.  We are honoured that Mr Tu one of the  leaders of the Bá Dương Nội Cultural committee always invites FVH to attend.

We share more information about the kites, and the festival during the journey to the village.

Meet: Outside of the Pan Pacific Hotel, on Yên Phụ Rd, at the corner of Thanh Niên Rd

Outline plan – NB this is subject to the weather as if its pouring with rain or no wind then plans may change. But let’s hope for good weather conditions. 

Please have lunch beforehand and bring refreshments/drinks. We do not  stop for lunch. NB in the village there  no evident restaurants/ cafes  but the festival may have some basic food stalls.

12.30pm-5.30pm approx total timing

12.15pm :  depart Hanoi from  Outside Pan Pacific Hotel on Yên Phụ Rd, corner of Thanh Niên Rd (NB –  no motorbike parking is available at the hotel or nearby so please come by public transport/taxi)

We arrive about 1.15pm (between 12noon and 2pm the kite making contestants apply for the kite flying contest ). We arrive when the competitors bring their kites to the Miếu Diều (kite temple)

from about 1.30pm opening proceedings start (called by the drum and plenty of speeches)

from about 2.15pm for for the afternoon the  kite flying competition takes place. We watch the competitors fly their kites running through fields of morning glory

Whether we stay for the final final part of the awards is TBC as it depends on the weather and what we want to do as a group. We usually leave about 4pm-4.30pm before the judging and awards

IMPORTANT TO NOTES

• This is NON touristy and we are usually the only visitors who attend
• Dress respectfully – no shorts, short outfits as we will be in the kite temple to start
• It is extremely noisy throughout
• Very unlikely but in case we need to provide details of our group when you RSVP please include (1) your full name (2)  where you live in Hanoi and (3)  nationality
• All proceedings are in Vietnamese (almost no one at the village speaks English) This is a very local but important competition.  One of our committee/Vietnamese friend is coming to translate and help us communicate with the local competitors
• We ask everyone for maximum flexibility and to go with the flow.  How long we spend at the village greatly depends on the weather (most years its a very hot and humid which can be uncomfortable to some people). We ask for compromise with the departure time as some may went to stay longer and some to leave a bit earlier hence we normally return about 4.15pm.  You are welcome to stroll around the village and nearby villages, as well as mingle with the locals, sit on the edge of the morning glory field with a cold beer and ice cream, and if you are lucky, one of the locals may show you how to the fly a kite…
• There is not a lot to see in the village – its become very urban

200,000 VND-250,000 VND person – cost depends on how many people sign up. The cost is to cover the mini bus hire

Limit:   max 10 people (we keep to a small group)

RSVP:          stella@fvheritage.org

Please provide your mobile number when registering. We need everyone’s mobile numbers in order for us to be in touch in the village

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