As from 2007, the Hung Kings’ death anniversary (Lunar March 10) has officially become the national festival. The Hung Kings festival is one of the most important and sacred festivals of the Vietnamese people. Watch Video

VOVNews interviewed Nguyen Tien Khoi, director of the historical Hung Temples, on preparations and activities during the festival.

Mr Khoi: Phu Tho province is considered the ancestral land, so on March 10 every year, the province spares no effort to welcome pilgrims coming from across the country. 2007 is an odd year but the province has paid great attention to organizing the festival. As from this year lunar March 10 has become a national festive holiday. It is expected that the number of visitors to the festival will triple as compared to previous years. The province has established an organizing board to welcome visitors to the festival. There are booths selling gifts and providing information for visitors to avoid congestion. All kinds of transport and accommodation are available to meet visitors’ demand.

VOVNews: Does this year’s festival have any new features compared to previous ones?

Mr Khoi: The ancestral land has many festivities. Since early this year, we have already launched a programme “returning to the roots of the Vietnamese nation” and many tours of the province, staring with the Au Co Temple festival on Lunar January 6  and ending with Hung Kings’ death anniversary on March 10. In previous years, the festival only lasted from Lunar March 6-10. This year, it lasts much longer with diverse activities taking place across the province.

Despite being an odd year in 2007, we still want to organise a national level festival as it was organised in 2005. The number of visitors to Phu Tho is expected to increase three fold. 

VOV: Visiting the Hung Kings Temples Complex, can visitors see historical objects of their era or just think about a world of legendary spirits? 

Mr Khoi: We need to confirm that the Hung Kings Era existed in history. All objects unearthed in Phu Tho province as well as adjacent localities showed that primitive men lived around the Hung Kings Temples complex. All these objects are currently displayed at the Hung Kings Museum.

The Vietnamese people are very proud of having our ancestors i.e. 18 Hung Kings who ruled over the nation for approximately 2,000 years. During that time, there were close bonds between the Kings and people. People were united and taught by the Kings to transplant rice and make their living, which has become a national tradition of unity, love, loyalty, industriousness and creativity as well as braveness and steadfastness in the struggle against foreign invaders.

President Ho Chi Minh who visited the Hung Kings Temples made a famous statement “the Hung Kings contributed to building the nation, you and I must join hands to defend it.”

As sons and nephews of the Hung Kings, we vow to follow our predecessors’ footsteps to build a more beautiful and prosperous Vietnamese nation.

VOV: Thank you.