Hung Kings Commemoration Day – the spiritual origin of the Vietnamese people

A cultural symbol and sense of origin

Hung Kings Commemoration Day, held annually on the 10th day of the third lunar month at Hung Temple (Phu Tho), is a national holiday of Vietnam, an occasion for the entire nation to honor the founding contributions of the Hung Kings. It is not only a cultural event but also a profound expression of the tradition of “when drinking water, remember its source.”

According to historical records, the Commemoration Day was officially designated in 1917 under the reign of Emperor Khai Dinh, creating nationwide uniformity in ritual practices. Since then, the 10th day of the third lunar month has become a sacred milestone embodying the spirit of national unity.

After the August Revolution in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh paid special attention to preserving this tradition. His decision to grant civil servants a day off for the Commemoration Day in 1946 elevated its significance. His famous remark at Hung Temple—“The Hung Kings founded the nation; we must work together to protect it”—has since become an enduring message, affirming every citizen’s responsibility toward the country.

Beyond its historical meaning, Hung Kings Commemoration Day carries profound cultural value. On December 6, 2012, UNESCO officially recognized the “Worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho” as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, demonstrating the enduring vitality of this tradition in community life.

A distinctive feature of the celebration lies in the harmonious blend of solemn rituals and festive activities. The ceremonial part includes incense offerings, palanquin processions, and traditional rites, expressing deep reverence for ancestors. Meanwhile, the festive part is vibrant with folk activities such as making banh chung and banh giay, xoansinging, and water puppetry, which both recreate origin legends and reflect the rich cultural life of the Vietnamese people.

According to UNESCO experts, the “Worship of Hung Kings” meets the most important of the five criteria—possessing outstanding universal value and fostering a shared awareness among peoples in promoting such values.

Late historian and archaeologist Professor Tran Quoc Vuong once noted that the Hung Temple Festival goes beyond being merely an ancestral commemoration. Visiting Hung Temple is not only a pilgrimage to the ancestral land—the birthplace of Vietnam’s first kings and the nation itself—but also a profound spiritual impulse: a return to one’s roots, to the nation, and ultimately to the very foundation of Vietnamese civilization.

Innovating to spread heritage values

In 2026, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day – Hung Temple Festival is being held on a large, well-organized scale with many notable new features, clearly reflecting the orientation of both preserving heritage and promoting its value in a contemporary context.

According to the Organizing Committee, the main activities run from April 17 to 26 (the 1st–10th days of the third lunar month) at the Hung Temple Special National Historical Relic Site, with two distinct parts: a solemn ceremonial section and a vibrant festival section.

The first highlight is the expansion of the festival space. Previously concentrated mainly within the relic site, this year’s events are organized on a broader scale, connecting multiple localities and forming a series of activities under the “Ancestral Land Culture and Tourism Week.” This marks a shift from a “local festival” to a “comprehensive cultural–tourism event.”

The second highlight is the increased scale and number of activities, with around 25 cultural, sports, and tourism events held continuously. Traditional activities such as palanquin processions, incense offerings, banh chung wrapping and banh giay pounding contests, and xoan singing are organized more systematically, often by clusters of communes and wards, strengthening community linkage.

Notably, 2026 marks the first-ever international fine arts exhibition held in Phu Tho—an important step in expanding cultural exchange and promoting the Ancestral Land to the world.

Another significant new feature is the revival of street folk cultural festivals, linked with the “Colors of Ancestral Land Tourism” program. This creates an open experiential space where residents and visitors can actively participate in cultural life rather than simply observe.

In addition, many modern activities have been introduced, such as a marathon, the Hung Kings Cup golf tournament, and traditional boat racing, helping diversify tourism products and attract a wider range of participants.

Festival organization has also been significantly upgraded through the application of technology, including surveillance camera systems, scientific traffic management, and enhanced measures for security, healthcare, and environmental sanitation to accommodate large numbers of visitors.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thuy, Deputy Director of the Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the 2026 Hung Kings Commemoration Day features a variety of distinctive activities that both inherit the traditions of the Hung Kings era and reflect contemporary life. The goal is for the festival not only to serve as a place of remembrance but also to become a space for cultural creativity, spreading heritage values to both domestic and international communities.

Hung Kings Commemoration Day is not merely a holiday but a symbol of Vietnam’s identity and spiritual strength. Each year, the festival is renewed while preserving its inherent sacredness.

Tam Phuc