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The Hùng Kings Festival is the second-largest event in Vietnam after Tet. It is well recognized for being the Hung King's passing anniversary.
Hùng Kings Festival
This festival takes place on the 10th of the third lunar month every year. The festival is recognized as a public holiday throughout Vietnam.
History
The festival's official name is “Death Anniversary of the Hùng Kings” The anniversary, however, does not commemorate the death of any particular Hùng King, but rather recognizes their contributions to Vietnam as the historic founders of the nation and the first emperors.
Kinh Duong Vuong, the first Hùng King, ascended to power in 2879 BC. He reigned over what is now North Vietnam and a portion of southern China. The region is known as Văn Lang and is considered the Vietnamese people's first nation. Duong Vuong established the Hong Bang Dynasty, whose heirs governed Vietnam until 258 BC.
Death Anniversary of the Hùng Kings
The Hùng Kings ruled Vietnam for 18 generations and taught people how to harvest wet rice. They picked Nghia Linh Mountain, the tallest in the region, for rites honoring rice and sun deities in order to pray for abundant harvests.
Signification
The Hùng Kings Festival is an occasion for Vietnamese people to pay tribute to their ancestors and to express gratitude for the foundation and development of the country. It is a time for the Vietnamese people to gather together, enjoy traditional foods, and participate in cultural and sporting events.
During the festival, many traditional rituals and ceremonies are performed, such as the offering of incense to the Hùng Kings, dragon and lion dances, and various folk games. The festival is also an opportunity for tourist visitors to learn about Vietnamese culture and history, as well as to experience the warmth and hospitality of the Vietnamese people.
Hùng Kings Festival
Hung King Temple Festival
Around Vietnam's 1,400 Hùng King temples, festivities are staged throughout the festival, but the greatest ritual takes place at the Phu Tho temple complex north of Hanoi, which millions visit each year.
The Hùng King Temple Festival is held yearly from the 8th to the 11th of the third lunar month, with the major celebration day happening on the 10th. Ancient and modern flags will be hung along the route heading from Viet Tri to Hung mountain the day before the event. A big balloon will help spread the word about the celebration in the neighboring neighborhoods. 100 floating lights are launched into the night sky on the eve of the event.
Hung Temple in Phu Tho is where the major ceremony will take place
This festival, like others in the northern portion of Vietnam, is divided into two parts: the incense-offering ritual and the leisure activities.
The former is held at the Upper Temple to offer "Dragon and Fairy descendants'" reverence to the ancestors. Sacrifices include a pig, a goat, a cow, Chung cake, Day cake, and a spectacular five-fruits feast. After hearing the sound of an antique bronze drum, the state leaders will execute the incense-offering ceremony, followed by elders and pilgrims.
Hung King Temple Festival
The latter is celebrated activities jubilantly around the temples with a blend of traditional and modern. However, the procession marches, Xoan singing performance in the Upper Temple, and Ca Tru singing performance in the Lower Temple stand out. Many tourists are drawn to crossbow shooting, rice cooking, swinging contests, cock fighting, and dragon dancing.
Hùng Kings Anniversary and Hung King Temple Festival are one of the largest spiritual and cultural festivals in Vietnam held according to national rites. Travel to Vietnam and enjoy an extremely valuable and unique heritage that has existed for thousands of years of Vietnam.
