Get involved in the Giong Festival in Hanoi - AsiaRooms.com

AsiaRooms.com can announce that people who are staying in hotels in Hanoi at the beginning of May should take the opportunity to experience one of the country's traditional festivals.

On May 3rd, the Giong Festival will take place in Phu Dong village in the city's Gia Lam district.

The celebrations are characterised by a large procession of locals giving thanks to Saint Giong.

Each year, the parade takes place to honour the saint, who defeated the An invaders of Giong Village and gave his own life in the process.

Anyone who wants to watch the procession should find themselves a spot along the route, which begins at the Mother Temple and stretches to the Thuong Temple.

A religious service is performed alongside the parade and afterwards all those involved are rewarded with a feast.

In the evening, any travellers who have remained for the entirety of the event will be treated to a performance of a Cheo play - a traditional Vietnamese opera.

Part of the appeal of this festival is that it encourages neighbours and other people to interact together.

Anyone who visits Phu Dong village in the month leading up to the festival will find extensive preparations taking place for the event.