Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of An Giang Province Le Van Nung and other members of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee; leaders of departments, localities, Son Tra district (Da Nang city), Vung Liem district (Vinh Long province) and a large number of people attended.

Opening the festival, Comrade Thai Minh Hien, Secretary of Thoai Son District Party Committee, stated that 207 years ago, this land was a desolate area of untamed wilderness, where people were isolated from surrounding regions. With the vision of a sage and the judgment of an exceptional land developer, in the Spring of Mau Dan (1818), Mr. Thoai Ngoc Hau - Nguyen Van Thoai mobilized over 1,500 militia to excavate the 30-kilometer-long Thoai Ha Canal, completing it within just one month.

Next, Mr. Thoai Ngoc Hau continued to command the digging of Vinh Te canal connecting Chau Doc – Ha Tien. These were two very early hand-dug canals in the Mekong Delta region to drain floods to the West Sea, which were important traffic and irrigation works serving the economic development and long-term social security not only for Thoại Son people but also for An Giang province and the Long Xuyen Quadrangle. In 1822, Mr. Thoai Ngoc Hau erected a stele and established Thoai Son village (which was renamed a commune in 1876).

Inheriting the invaluable heritage of our ancestors in the work of reclaiming and protecting the homeland, going through two long resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism and the war to protect the southwestern border; the Party Committee, government and people of Thoai Son district in particular, An Giang province in general, have always shown a spirit of loyalty and solidarity.

Thoai Son is the first district in the country to be awarded three noble titles: Hero of the People's Armed Forces (2000), Hero of Labor in the renovation period (2009) and district meeting new rural standards (2018). Continuing that tradition, Thoai Son was honored to receive the certificate of recognition as an advanced new rural district in 2023 from the Prime Minister.

The 24th Traditional Cultural Festival of Thoai Son District in 2025, along with the Ky Yen Festival at Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple, coincides with the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day (10th of March in the lunar calendar). The festival features various activities, such as ornamental creature contests, traditional fighting competition with bantam chickens, calligraphy gifting, Southern antique displays, and stamp exhibitions.

News by Phuong Lan

Translation by Thi Huynh