Quynh Phu District: Temples, Festivals and River Landscapes

Quynh Phu District can be explored through its historic sites, recurring festivals and waterways. The monuments represent different forms of cultural heritage, while festival traditions include religious ceremonies and community games. Rivers and canals also give the destination a clearly identifiable landscape dimension. When planning your hotel stay, it is worth first considering whether your main focus is the history of the monuments, a festival date, or rural and water-related themes.

Cultural Monuments and Festival Traditions

Đền Đồng Bằng in An Lễ was recognized as a national historical and cultural monument in 1986 and added to a national tourism route in August 2003. Its traditional festival has been on the national list of intangible cultural heritage since September 16, 2016. The traditional festival program includes traditional boat racing, Văn singing and religious ceremonies, as well as chess, volleyball, freestyle wrestling, tug-of-war and cockfighting. The program thus ranges from rituals and singing to competitions and games.

Đình An Bài, a national historical monument, features a distinctive architectural detail: a wooden parallel couplet from the Nguyễn dynasty with raised, gilded lettering. Miếu Hoàng Bà in Quỳnh Hoa is classified as a national architectural and artistic monument. Its traditions include annual processions and offerings on the 2nd and 3rd days of the third lunar month, and the 4th and 5th days of the twelfth lunar month. Confirm the specific dates before your trip.

Miếu Hòe Thị in Đồng Tiến also has its own historical significance: according to tradition, it dates back to the Trần dynasty. It is one of the oldest monuments in the district and is classified as a national monument. In An Thái, the A-Sào Festival is on the national list of intangible cultural heritage. The complex of Đình, temple and Bến Tượng A Sào is among the district’s monuments whose significance for culture and tourism is being preserved and promoted.

Festivals According to the Lunar Calendar

The festival of Đền Lộng Khê in An Khê is recognized as national intangible cultural heritage and is preserved and continued at the temple. It usually takes place each year from the 23rd through the 25th day of the third lunar month. On the evening of the 24th day, the Đình-Liệu tree is burned, and a torch procession passes through the village. Its traditional route is described as “exit to the east, enter from the west.” As the festival dates follow the lunar calendar, their corresponding Gregorian dates vary. Check the local festival arrangements before your trip, too.

Rivers and Rural Themes

Quynh Coi Canal, also known as the Yen Long River or Ben Hiep River, runs through part of the district toward Đông Hưng. It is about 15 kilometers long, begins at the Ben-Hiep outlet, and connects to the Tiên Hưng River in Liên Giang Commune. The He River connects the Hoa River with the Diêm Hộ River, is 12 kilometers long, and runs through several communes in Thái Bình District. The Đại Nam River runs for 16 kilometers through the district, begins at the Đại-Nam outlet, and connects to the Diêm Hộ River. The lengths provide a brief comparison: at 12 kilometers, the He is the shortest; the canal is in the middle at about 15 kilometers; and the Đại Nam measures 16 kilometers.

Designated rural experiences include lotus ponds in An Vũ and An Dục. Sunflowers in An Khê and lychee trees in Quỳnh Minh are also named as experience and check-in destinations. These agricultural attractions are seasonal, so it is best to coordinate specific visit plans in advance. The district is developing community-based tourism experiences and directing visitors toward agricultural tourism activities. In its tourism strategy, spiritual tourism is the most important form of tourism.

You can start by planning your travel dates around the festival calendars, or choose the monuments and rural attractions as your thematic focuses.

Discover more destinations: Vũ Xá, Vu Ban District.

See the broader travel overview: Nam Định.