Hung Kings' Temple Festival and Culture - Tourism Week of the Ancestral Land opens  (Photo: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

The festival began on Saturday with a series of exciting activities, including a golf tournament, a book fair, the launch of the Hung Kings’ Temple night tour, a grand opening ceremony, and an art program.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyen Huy Ngoc said: "The art program at the opening ceremony emphasizes that the ancestral land is not only a sacred land, preserving Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage, but also a thriving tourist destination where historical and cultural values are maintained, spread, and sustainably promoted. Coming to Phu Tho means returning to the ancestral land, where historical imprints are embraced and national solidarity is promoted."

During the 10-day celebration, Phu Tho will hold a series of ceremonial events, including a commemoration of national ancestor Lac Long Quan, an incense offering for legendary mother Au Co, a tribute to the Hung Kings on their death anniversary, and a flower offering at the bas-relief of President Ho Chi Minh and the vanguard army. Incense offering ceremonies will be held across Phu Tho. A palanquin procession will go from surrounding communes to the Hung Kings Temple.

The festival will include a variety of cultural, artistic, and sports activities for locals and visitors, such as bronze drum and swordplay demonstrations, night cultural and art shows, street music performances, Xoan singing performances, folk dancing and martial arts showcases, lion, unicorn, and dragon dance performances, and water puppet shows.

Ms. Ngoc Anh of Nghe An province is excited about the festival: “This is my first time attending the festival in Phu Tho, and I’m very impressed by its grandeur.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, a Phu Tho resident, said: “Every year I eagerly await this festival, as it represents the pride of our homeland – our ancestral land. All the activities are meticulously organized and are amazing.”

The 2025 Ancestral Land Cultural Tourism Week is not only a celebration of history and heritage but also an opportunity to introduce Phu Tho’s stunning natural and cultural attractions to domestic and international visitors. Some must-visit destinations include the Hung Kings’ Temple, Xoan singing villages, the Long Coc tea hills, Thanh Thuy mineral spring, Xuan Son National Park, and Ao Gioi-Suoi Tien – a picturesque landscape of waterfalls and caves.