Hung Kings Temple Festival – Dates, Traditions & Travel Tips

People in colorful traditional temple clothes carrying a golden object in a parade during Hung Kings Temple Festival
The Hung Kings Temple Festival is one of Vietnam’s most important spiritual and cultural events, held each year to honor the country’s legendary founders. While it holds deep meaning for Vietnamese people, the festival remains relatively unknown and often misunderstood by foreign travelers. In this guide, you’ll learn what the Hung Kings Temple Festival is, how it’s celebrated, and whether it’s worth experiencing during your travels in Vietnam.

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Who were the Hung Kings?

The Hung Kings are remembered as the legendary founders of the Vietnamese nation. Their story begins with two mythical figures: Lac Long Quan, a dragon lord from the sea, and Au Co, a mountain fairy. Together, they had 100 sons. One day, they decided to separate—half went to the mountains with Au Co, and the other half to the sea with Lac Long Quan. The eldest son became the first Hung King and founded Van Lang, the first known kingdom of the Vietnamese people.

The Hung Kings ruled for many generations and are believed to have laid the foundations of Vietnamese culture, from farming to spiritual beliefs. Even though their stories are part legend, they remain powerful symbols of unity and national identity. That’s why each year, Vietnamese people across the country take time to remember and honor them through the Hung Kings Temple Festival.

When and Where is the Hung Kings Temple Festival?

Dates and Duration

The Hung Kings Temple Festival takes place every year from the 1st to the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, with the main ceremony on the 10th day, which is also a national holiday in Vietnam. On the Western calendar, it usually falls in late March or early April.

  • 2026: April 26
  • 2027: April 16

Main location – Phu Tho Province

The main celebration is held in Phu Tho Province, at a temple complex built on a forested hill called Nghia Linh Mountain. This is considered the spiritual birthplace of Vietnam and the central site for the festival.

Hung Kings Festival in Vietnam (Nationwide)

Although it’s a public holiday across the country, most of the actual celebrations take place in Phu Tho. We’ll cover how the festival is observed in other parts of Vietnam in How Hung Kings Festival is celebrated in rest of Vietnam.

About the Hung Kings Temple Complex

The Main Gate (Cong Tam Quan) of Hung Kings Temple Complex

The Hung Kings Temple Complex is located on Nghia Linh Mountain in Phu Tho, the region believed to be where the Hung Kings once ruled the ancient kingdom of Van Lang. According to legend, the first Hung King chose this site after his horse stopped at the mountain’s base and wouldn’t move—seen as a divine sign. The area’s high ground, fertile plains, and protective rivers made it an ideal place to build a capital. Over time, this location became a sacred space where later generations honored the Hung Kings with temples and rituals.

The Trung Temple (Middle Temple) at the Hung Kings Temple Complex

Today, the complex is spread across a forested hillside, with several small temples connected by long stone staircases. The setting is peaceful and green, and many Vietnamese people visit to pay respects or reflect on their cultural roots. The temples themselves are modest in size but rich in symbolism, each one representing a part of the Hung Kings’ legacy. For a full visitor guide, see our dedicated article on the Hung Kings Temple Complex.

What to expect at the Hung Kings Temple Festival?

The Hung Kings Temple Festival is a mix of solemn rituals and lively cultural activities, with most events taking place around the Hung Kings Temple Complex in Phu Tho. While the main ceremony is spiritual and symbolic, the festival also includes performances, traditional games, food stalls, and folk traditions that bring the ancestral stories to life.

1. The Main Ceremony

A long parade with flags and people in red traditional temple customs at Hungs King Temple Complex during Hung Kings Festival
People in colorful traditional temple clothes carrying a golden chair in a parade during Hung Kings Temple Festival

On the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, thousands of people gather to take part in or witness the official incense offering at the Thuong Temple, located at the top of Nghia Linh Mountain. A symbolic procession starts from the foot of the mountain, stopping at each temple along the way before reaching the top. Government officials, locals, and pilgrims all participate, dressed in ceremonial clothing and carrying offerings of flowers, incense, and food.

2. Bánh Chung & Bánh Giay offerings

Local woman are making traditional cakes for Hung Kings Festival in Phu Tho

A key part of the ceremony is placing bánh chưng (square sticky rice cakes) and bánh giầy (round glutinous rice cakes) on the altars. These cakes come from the legend of Lang Liêu, the son of the 6th Hung King, who won his father’s favor by creating these simple yet meaningful offerings to represent the earth and the sky.

3. Cultural performances and folk activities

Xoan singing and dancing performance in Phu Tho during Hung Kings Temple Festival
Lion dancing in Phu Tho during Hung Kings Temple Festival

Throughout the festival days, you’ll find a variety of cultural performances in and around the temple grounds. These include traditional music, folk singing, Xoan singing (a UNESCO-recognized art form), and martial arts displays. There are also lively shows like lion and dragon dances, drumming performances, and folk plays that reflect local myths and ancestral stories.

4. Community activities and Games

Kids in traditional clothes and adults are playing a game with bamboo sticks you have to jump over in a certain ritm during Hung Kings Festival

The festival also brings together people for traditional games and contests. You might see rice cooking competitions, bamboo swing challenges, or even large-scale human chess matches. These take place in open areas around the complex or in nearby parks, creating a community atmosphere beyond the religious rituals.

5. Food & Craft stalls

Around the festival area, especially at the base of the mountain, there are many stalls selling local food and handmade goods. You can try traditional dishes, buy snacks or drinks, or browse regional handicrafts such as textiles, ceramics, or wood carvings. It’s not a full street food festival, but it adds flavor—literally and culturally—to the experience.

Visiting the Hung Kings Temple Festival (From a traveler’s perspective)

For foreign travelers, the Hung Kings Temple Festival offers a rare and meaningful look into Vietnam’s deep respect for its ancestral past. It’s one of the few times in the year when spiritual rituals, national pride, and community culture come together in one place. Walking alongside thousands of Vietnamese pilgrims, watching traditional ceremonies unfold, and witnessing the scale of participation can feel both powerful and humbling—especially if you’re interested in Vietnamese history and cultural identity.

Very large crowds at the Hung Kings Temple Complex during Hung Kings Temple Festival

But it’s important to set the right expectations. This is not a quiet temple visit. The festival draws up to 4 million people over the course of ten days, with the biggest crowds on the main day (the 10th of the 3rd lunar month). If you come on or near that date, expect dense crowds, long queues, loudspeakers, heat, and very little personal space. Moving between temples can be slow, and finding a calm moment for reflection may be difficult.

So, is it worth visiting?

Yes—if you’re someone who enjoys large-scale cultural events, doesn’t mind crowds, and wants to witness an important part of Vietnamese tradition up close. It’s a unique chance to see how myth, memory, and national identity are honored in modern-day Vietnam.

But if you’re short on time, dislike crowds, or are hoping for a peaceful spiritual experience, this may not be the right festival for you.

A quieter visit to the Hung Kings Temple Complex on a non-festival day might be a better option for those who prefer a slower, more reflective experience.

How to get to the Festival in Phu Tho

Getting to the Hung Kings Temple Festival is fairly easy under normal conditions, but keep in mind that travel times can increase significantly during the festival week due to traffic, crowds, and occasional road closures—especially on the main day of the event.

  • Private car or taxi from Hanoi:
    The fastest and most comfortable option. It takes around 2 to 2.5 hours under normal traffic. During the festival, especially on the 10th day, allow for extra time due to congestion near the temple complex.
  • Bus to Viet Tri City + local transport:
    Regular buses run from My Dinh Bus Station in Hanoi to Viet Tri City in Phu Tho. From there, it’s about 10 km to the temple site, which you can cover by taxi or motorbike taxi. This is the more affordable option but can be slower, especially during peak days.

If you’re planning to attend the festival on a busy day, it’s a good idea to arrive early in the morning and book transport in advance where possible.

Tips for visiting Hung Kings Temple Festival

Choose the Right Day

The festival is based on the lunar calendar, so the dates change each year—usually falling in late March or early April. Make sure to double-check the exact dates for the year you’re traveling. If you want to experience the atmosphere but avoid the biggest crowds, consider visiting on one of the earlier days, rather than the main ceremony on the 10th.

Prepare for extreme crowds

The festival attracts millions of people, with the busiest day seeing hundreds of thousands at the temple complex. Expect long lines, slow-moving crowds, loudspeakers, and very little personal space. If you don’t enjoy large, packed events, this may not be the best day to visit.

Dress comfortably & Respectfully

Wear light, breathable clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, as this is a religious site. You’ll be walking a lot, often uphill on stone steps, so sturdy shoes are essential.

Stay hydrated & Bring snacks

There are some food and drink vendors, but during peak times it can be hard to reach them. Bring a water bottle, small snacks, and some cash in small bills in case mobile payments aren’t accepted.

Book accommodation early

If you’re planning to stay overnight, book your hotel in Viet Tri well in advance. The city fills up quickly during the festival, and last-minute options can be limited or overpriced.

Hung Kings Festival in the rest of Vietnam

Since 2007, the Hung Kings Festival has been recognized as a national holiday in Vietnam. However, outside of Phu Tho, there are usually no major public celebrations. For most people, it’s simply a day off work—a chance to rest, travel, or spend time with family.

You might find small-scale ceremonies at a few local temples that are also dedicated to the Hung Kings, such as the Hung Kings Temple in Suoi Tien Park (Ho Chi Minh City) or at memorial sites in Hanoi. These are usually short rituals or incense offerings and don’t involve big events.

There are no fireworks, no parades, and no country-wide celebrations. However, if the holiday falls close to a weekend, it often turns into a long weekend, which means more domestic travel. As a visitor, you might notice:

  • Heavier traffic on roads and at airports
  • Busier tourist destinations, especially popular spots like Ninh Binh, Da Lat, Hoi An, or Phu Quoc
  • Limited hotel availability in some areas

If you’re traveling in Vietnam during this period, it’s a good idea to book transport and accommodation early, even if you’re not planning to attend the festival itself.

Need help planning your festival visit?

If you’re thinking of attending the Hung Kings Temple Festival, we can help you get there. From private transfers to flexible day trips, we’ll arrange everything you need—before the crowds arrive. Add a guide or combine with nearby sights if you like. Let us know your travel plans and we’ll help you make it happen.

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