Báo Phú Thọ•22/04/2026
Hung Temple - A spiritual destination, a place where the spirit of brotherhood converges in the thousand-year flow of Vietnamese culture.
The convergence point of the meaning of "compatriots"
Hung Temple - a place where the sacred spirit of the mountains and rivers converges, uniting the two words "compatriots" - always extends its arms to welcome all Vietnamese people on pilgrimage to Nghia Linh Mountain.
The Hung Kings worship belief – a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage of humanity – has been and continues to promote its value, becoming a unique cultural feature of humankind.
The Hung Kings worship tradition has been deeply ingrained in the consciousness of every Vietnamese person since ancient times, creating immense value in fostering brotherhood and solidarity. As a spiritual anchor that creates the enduring strength of the nation, the Hung Kings worship tradition holds a significant place in the spiritual life of the people, carrying spiritual values of affection, self-respect, and national pride. Throughout history, this belief has served as a spiritual foundation and a belief in the sacredness and mystery, enabling the Vietnamese people to strengthen national unity, work together to overcome natural disasters and foreign invaders, and protect their homeland.
The relics dedicated to Hung Kings, along with their rituals and festivals, are spread throughout the country. To express gratitude for the merits of the Hung Kings, on the 10th day of the third lunar month every year, Vietnamese expatriates abroad organize the Hung Kings Commemoration Ceremony, establishing altars to the National Ancestor Hung Kings at the offices of embassies and consulates of various countries, fulfilling the need to remember their ancestors and nation.
Dr. Tran Huu Son, an expert at the Institute for Applied Cultural Tourism Research, affirmed: Every Vietnamese person has a patriotic spirit, a longing for their ancestors and origins. The vibrant spirit of the Hung Kings worship and ancestor worship reflects the traditional moral values of the Vietnamese people, preserved and passed down from generation to generation. With these distinctive values, on December 6, 2012, UNESCO officially inscribed the Hung Kings worship in Phu Tho as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Among these, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the Hung Temple Festival represent the pinnacle of the tradition of gratitude, remembering one's roots, and showing appreciation for those who have contributed to it.
The Hung Kings Commemoration Day in Vietnam has therefore become a unique and rare cultural and historical phenomenon in the world .
According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there are more than 1,400 relics dedicated to Hung Kings and other figures from the Hung King era nationwide. In Phu Tho province, the Hung Temple National Special Historical Relic Site is the largest center for practicing the Hung King worship in the country.
The Hung Kings worship tradition is not only reflected in cultural and spiritual life but also embodies the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source," expressing gratitude to the ancestors who founded the nation. The spiritual strength of the Hung Kings Commemoration Day serves as a call from the heart of every Vietnamese person to return to their roots, to their homeland, with the sacred and intimate meaning of "compatriots." Returning to the ancestral shrine is not only about returning to one's origins but also a pilgrimage to traditional faith, to the sacred and mystical essence of ancestors and the spirit of the mountains and rivers. It is precisely because of this undying faith and reverence in the hearts of every Vietnamese person towards their ancestors, grandparents, parents, and the Hung Kings, that the nation's strength has been multiplied throughout history.
Mr. Pham Tien Dat, Director of the Hung Temple Historical Relic Site, informed: Hung Temple is identified as the largest and oldest center for the practice of Hung King worship in the historical development of the Vietnamese nation. Every year, the province organizes many activities to introduce and promote the cultural heritage of Hung King worship so that people can better understand the great value of this unique cultural heritage, thereby contributing to deepening the sacred meaning of the word "compatriots".
The pilgrimage to Hung Temple is an opportunity to express gratitude for the merits of our ancestors and to engrave the meaning of "compatriots" in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.
Spreading traditional cultural values
These days, in the Viet Tri and Thanh Mieu wards, Hy Cuong commune, and the Hung King Temple historical site, many rituals and cultural and artistic activities bearing the distinct mark of the Hung King era are taking place, with the highlight being two cultural heritages inscribed by UNESCO: the Hung King worshiping belief and Phu Tho Xoan singing.
As the largest and most unique place of worship in the country, Phu Tho has invested in building the Hung Temple historical site into an increasingly spacious and beautiful complex; the Hung Temple Festival has become more civilized and exemplary, ensuring the best conditions for people when they come to offer incense and commemorate the Hung Kings.
Mr. Pham Van Tuan, 64 years old, from Soc Son (Hanoi), said that for many years, he and his children and grandchildren have come to Hung Temple every year to offer incense and commemorate the Hung Kings. Hung Temple is becoming increasingly magnificent, worthy of being a place of worship for the ancestors of the entire nation. Especially when coming here, his family also gets to participate in many unique cultural activities that bear the distinct mark of the Hung King era.
Ms. Vu Thi Mai, a resident of Viet Tri ward currently working in South Korea, enthusiastically shared: "Every year during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, I make time to return to Vietnam to participate in the festival with friends and family. Some years, I bring my Korean friends to the festival. For me, this is not only an opportunity to pay respects to our ancestors, but also a chance to connect with my homeland, meet relatives, and experience the atmosphere of the traditional festival. Every time I set foot in Hung Temple, I feel an indescribable emotion, as if I'm returning to the embrace of my roots and understanding more about the meaning of brotherhood."
Mr. Pham Tien Dat, Director of the Hung Temple Historical Relic Area, provided further information: In order to create the best conditions for people and tourists visiting Hung Temple, the area has renovated the overall landscape; ensured that the environment in the festival area is always green, clean, and beautiful; maintained, repaired, and upgraded infrastructure; and strengthened inter-agency inspections of cultural, sports, tourism, and advertising activities and services to ensure security, order, and safety...
Comrade Nguyen Huy Ngoc - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Organizing Committee for the Hung Kings Commemoration Day - Hung Temple Festival and the Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week in the year of the Horse 2026, emphasized: Through festival activities, we contribute to honoring the culture of the Hung Kings era, promoting the image of the homeland, people and tourism of Phu Tho province after the merger.
Through continuous efforts, the province has elevated the organization of the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week into an exemplary, solemn festival, deeply rooted in national identity, contributing to the development of a model festival nationwide. From there, the spiritual strength of the Hung Kings Commemoration Day serves as a call from the heart of every descendant of Lac and Hong to return to their roots, to their homeland, with the sacred yet familiar words "compatriots."
The journey to Hung Temple therefore not only signifies gratitude to our ancestors but also affirms our cultural identity and the strength of national unity. From this origin, traditional values continue to be preserved and spread, becoming a solid spiritual foundation that forever resonates with the word "compatriots" in the hearts of every Vietnamese citizen.
National Assembly
Source: https://baophutho.vn/thieng-lieng-hai-tieng-dong-bao-252334.htm
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