Traditional rituals will be conducted at the temples dedicated to Lac Long Quan and Au Co in the Hung Kings Temple relic site to express gratitude to the ones who laid the foundation of the country, and incense and flower offering to Hung Kings in various localities.

Cultural activities planned for Hung Kings’ anniversary 2024.

A highlight of the 10-day ceremony is the opening of the Hung Kings Temple Festival and the Week of UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritages to be held at Hung Vuong square in Viet Tri city on April 4 (the first day of the third lunar month).

Other activities include exhibitions on Vietnam’s tourism, culture, heritages and sustainable development; a “Viet Tri Live music” street music programme; the northwestern region's tourism fair 2024; the Hung Vuong Cup volleyball tournament; an one commune-one product (OCOP) trade exhibition; a cuisine festival; xoan singing; and firework displays.

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (real name Sung Lam, son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of De Lai). Au Co then gave birth to a pouch filled with 100 eggs, which later hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, the couple separated. Lac Long Quan went to the coast with 50 of the children, while Au Co went to the highlands with the rest.

Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (modern-day Viet Tri city in Phu Tho province), beginning the 18 generations of the Hung Kings.

The kings chose Nghia Linh mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray for healthy crops.

To honour their great contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to them was built on the mountain, and the 10th day of the third lunar month, which falls on April 29 this year, serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.

The worship of the Hung Kings, closely related to the ancestral worship traditions of most Vietnamese families, was recognised as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012.

Activities planned for Ban Flower Festival 2024

From March 13 to 18, the Opening Ceremony of the National Tourism Year - Dien Bien and the Ban Flower Festival 2024 will take place in Dien Bien Phu city, Dien Bien Phu province. During the event, visitors will experience unique cultural activities imbued with the cultural identity of local ethnic groups. They will also have the chance to revisit the glorious historical victory of Dien Bien Phu.

Highlights of Vietnamese Pho Festival 2024

The Vietnamese Pho Festival is scheduled to take place in Nam Dinh Province from March 15 to 17 with a wide range of activities, including the cooking of a huge pot of pho that can fill 2,000 bowls.

Cavalry team of Ministry of Public Security to perform at Yen The Festival

BAC GIANG - In a series of activities at the Festival commemorating the 140th anniversary of the Yen The Uprising (Yen The Festival 2024), the Cavalry Mobile Police Troop under the Mobile Police Command (Ministry of Public Security) will perform a special show.

Sixty-five master chefs, culinary experts to gather at Pho Festival 2024

As many as 65 master chefs and culinary experts from across the country will join the Pho Festival 2024, which will take place in the northern province of Nam Dinh from March 15 - 17.

Ho Chi Minh City book festival features over 16,000 titles

A book festival known as “Xuyen Viet” will be held at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street from March 13 to 17, featuring over 16,000 titles offered at discounted prices.

Source: VNA