Since ancient times, the Hùng Kings’ Death Anniversary has been of great significance in Vietnamese culture. To honor the ancestors who forged the land, built the foundations of the country, and laid the groundwork for the nation, every year, Vietnamese people across the country gather to pay homage to the ancestors at the sacred land of Phú Thọ province.

Preserving cultural traditions

Phú Thọ province is known as the homeland of the ancient Vietnamese people and the cradle of wet-rice civilization and Vietnamese culture. Due to its geographical and cultural significance, Phú Thọ has always been regarded as a sacred land, where the Hùng Kings established the Văn Lang Kingdom - the first state in Vietnam.

In the minds of the Vietnamese people, the Hùng Kings are symbols and founders of the country. Over generations, the worship of the Hùng Kings has become a part of the national identity and a traditional virtue, reflecting deep gratitude for the ancestors’ contributions to the establishment and defense of the nation. Worshiping the Hùng Kings is not only a spiritual activity to pray for the nation’s prosperity, peace, good harvests, and security, but also serves as a reminder to strengthen the unity, love, and mutual support among the different ethnic groups of Vietnam.

Currently, there are more than 1,400 sites nationwide dedicated to the worship of the Hùng Kings, their spouses, and generals of the Hùng Kings era. Phú Thọ alone has 345 such sites. Other provinces and cities such as Hà Nội, Vĩnh Phúc, Nghệ An, Huế, Đồng Nai, Hồ Chí Minh City, and Bến Tre also have numerous sites dedicated to the Hùng Kings. Every year, these localities hold solemn and respectful ceremonies to honor the Hùng Kings.

On the anniversary of the Hùng Kings’ Death, the pilgrimage to the Hùng Temple in Phú Thọ is a deeply cherished tradition for many generations of Vietnamese people. This pilgrimage is seen as a return to the historical roots. Over time, it has become the Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival, also known as the Hùng Kings’ Death Anniversary, which has grown into a major national festival, holding great importance in the spiritual life of the people, embodying deep emotions, pride, and national identity. Therefore, on December 6, 2012, UNESCO officially recognized the worship of the Hùng Kings in Phú Thọ as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, affirming the deep value and meaning of this cultural practice.

With this pride, the Hùng Kings’ Death Anniversary has become an important occasion to promote the image of Phú Thọ and attract tourists from all over the country. The province has also determined to make tourism a key driver for economic development.

A diverse destination

Taking advantage of this, every year on the 10th of March on the lunar calendar, Phú Thọ welcomes millions of visitors from all over the country who come to pay homage to the Hùng Kings. In 2024, more than 3 million visitors came during this time. The province is continuing to make efforts to organize the Hùng Kings’ Death Anniversary Festival in a dignified, exemplary manner that deeply reflects national traditions.

This year, the Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival and the “Land of Ancestors” Culture and Tourism Week takes place from March 29 to April 7 (from the 1st to the 10th of the third lunar month of the Year of the Snake). In addition to traditional activities, the festival will introduce several new features, offering unique experiences for both locals and visitors. The highlight will be the opening arts program with the theme "Echoes of the Origin" on the evening of the 1st of the third lunar month at Hùng Vương Square. Other exciting activities will take place at the Văn Lang Park, such as the Xoan singing performance, competitions for making “chưng” cakes and grinding “giầy” cakes, and exhibitions showcasing materials and artifacts from the Hùng Kings’ era. In addition to cultural activities, this year’s festival will also feature many sports events, including the 2025 “Drinking Water, Remembering the Source” Golf Tournament - Phú Thọ, the Martial Arts Festival toward the Origin, and the 2025 “Returning to the root” Marathon. These events will not only help promote the image of the Land of Ancestors but also spread the spirit of unity and community connection through sports and culture.

Nguyễn Huy Ngọc, Deputy Chairman of the Phú Thọ provincial People’s Committee, emphasized to the press: “One of the important tasks for Phú Thọ in the current period is to accelerate tourism development, striving to make tourism a key driver for economic growth. Especially, the annual Hùng Kings’ Death Anniversary is a crucial time to promote Phú Thọ’s image and attract tourists from across the country.”

To achieve this, Phú Thọ is working to position itself not only as the origin of the Vietnamese people but also as a colorful destination with all the valuable resources needed to become a cultural, ecological, and spiritual tourism center. In addition to the Hùng Kings’ Death Anniversary, Phú Thọ’s tourism sector is expanding its tourism offerings, including sports tourism, golf tourism, and resorts, diversifying products, and reducing the focus on the peak festival season.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Phú Thọ, the province is aiming to establish five key tourism centers with distinct tourism products, such as Việt Trì city, which will be a destination for festivals associated with the Hùng Kings’ Historical Relic Complex and night entertainment; Thanh Thủy, with ecological tourism and resorts linked to hot spring springs and natural landscapes; Tam Nông, focusing on sports tourism and golf; and Long Cốc - Xuân Sơn National Park, with community tourism.

Phú Thọ’s tourism sector is also strengthening connections with tourism and travel businesses nationwide to expand its market, continuing its cooperation with eight provinces in the Northwest and Hồ Chí Minh City, creating many inter-provincial tourism routes to attract visitors to the Land of Ancestors.