One of the most popular events on the Vietnamese religious calendar is the Chu Dong Tu Festival, which takes place from March 10th to 12th.
Chu Dong Tu is one of the four immortal gods of the Vietnamese pantheon and the annual celebration in his name is a joyful occasion in the country, with banquets, music and dancing accompanying the religious ceremonies.
The festival is traditionally focused on the temples of Da Hoa and Da Trach, which are both situated close to Hanoi hotels (http://www.asiarooms.com/
On the morning of March 10th, a procession of pilgrims travelling to Da Hoa can be seen walking along the banks of the Red River.
According to the Vietnam Tourism website, others complete a ceremonial walk from the Da Trach temple to the river, where they collect water.
The procession from Da Trach is preceded by a 20-metre long dragon, which is carried by 30 men who dance in time to drumbeats.
Upon arriving at the river, the procession is met by a fleet of boats sailing downstream from Khoai Chau District.
The whole procession then returns to the temple with the water and the formal opening ceremony begins, with the dragon dancing group arriving at the temple door.
