Tich Dien or sacred plowing ritual was performed in Duy Tien Town, the northern province of Ha Nam on February 4 to celebrate the time-honored tradition dates back to the 10th century.

The tradition was initiated during the reign of King Le Dai Hanh who, as a symbolic gesture, plowed a field in what is now Tien Son Commune, Duy Tien Town, Ha Nam Province, to inspire the people to cultivate rice.

Held annually on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, the festival serves as a remembrance of this royal gesture to honor agriculture and work toward prosperity. The Vietnamese celebrate Than Nong, the deity of agriculture, and offer prayers for bountiful harvests and a prosperous year ahead during this important national holiday.

For centuries, the plowing ceremony has been woven into the fabric of Vietnam's dynastic cycles. Photos: Duy Khanh/The Hanoi Times  However, it fell into oblivion during the reign of King Khai Dinh of the Nguyen Dynasty.

It wasn’t until 2009 that the ritual was revived, bringing with it a sense of cultural renewal and reverence.

The festival begins with the powerful drung beating performed by the women in Doi Tam Village, signaling the beginning of the ritual.

The worship is intensified with a special dance of the dragon.

A presentation led by local artisan Pham Tri Khang in front of the altar dedicated to Than Nong and the spirit of King Le Dai Hanh.

Nguyen Ngoc An, a 75-year-old from Linh Trung Village, takes on the role of King Le Dai Hanh.

Clad in royal regalia and a mask, he leads the ceremonial plowing of the first rows of the paddy field for the first rice crop of the Lunar New Year.

After him, the elders of the village take part in the re-enactment, following in the "king's" footsteps as they till the soil. Young men and women, with great care you sow the seeds in the fertile soil.

Among the many traditional festivals throughout Vietnam, Ha Nam's Tich Dien holds a special place, embodying the collective spirit of the community.

In 2017, the Tich Dien ritual was declared a "National Intangible Cultural Heritage" by the state, a testament to its cultural significance.