HÀ NỘI An annual commemoration ceremony for the Hùng Kings, considered the founders of Việt Nam, will bring Việt Trì City alive with colours, sounds, rituals and festivities. 

The 10-day event, beginning on April 20, will also be a platform for the Culture and Tourism Week of Ancestral Land in the northern province of Phú Thọ.

People attend a previous Hùng Kings Temple festival. Photo toquoc.vn

The ceremony includes the celebration and incense offering to Lạc Long Quân and Âu cơ - the progenitors of Việt Nam as well as the celebration of Hùng Kings and the flower offering at the famous site where late President Hồ Chí Minh met with the Vanguard Army.

Legend has it that the eldest son of Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ was crowned as the ruler and he designated the name Văn Lang to the country, and established the capital city in Phong Châu (present-day Việt Trì City), which marked the beginning of 18 Hùng Kings' dynasties. 

The festival begins with the "Hùng Temple Festival and Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week in 2023" and the "UNESCO-listed Intangible Cultural Heritage Week".

Other activities include an international conference on Việt Nam’s tourism, culture, heritages and sustainable development, a swimming and stand-up paddle board competition, the northwest tourism fair 2023, and the Hùng Kings Cup of football and volleyball tournaments. 

Visitors can enjoy the Northwestern Tourism Fair in 2023, the Northeast - Phú Thọ trade fair in 2023, the Land Father Food Culture Festival, and a Cultural Camp and Art Festival to celebrate the legacy of the Hùng Kings.

Tourists can also immerse themselves in the rich cultural offerings of Việt Nam at the "Xoan (folk) singing in the ancient village," featuring traditional performances such as water puppet shows, pounding rice performances and bronze drumming.

Foodies can showcase their skills in contests to make bánh chưng (sticky rice cake) and bánh dày (glutinous rice cake), while fashion enthusiasts can admire the beauty of the Vietnamese national áo dài costume at the Vietnam Áo Dài Festival "Towards the roots".

For those looking for a more active experience, there are traditional sports competitions and bicycle races hosted by Vietnamese clubs. Additionally, organisers have arranged a farm trip group called "The Colourful Journey to Midland".

Other cultural, sports, and tourism activities include the exhibition "Cultural and tourism heritage of Việt Nam's capital areas," the display of documents and artefacts about festivals and beliefs of the Hùng Kings era, and the art photo exhibition with the theme "Homeland, people of Phú Thọ". VNS