A big incense offering ceremony for Hung Kings believed to be the founders of the Vietnamese nation will be held at 7am on April 23 (or the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month) in the northern midland province of Phu Tho. Similar ceremonies will also take place in every other province and centrally-run city at local temples.

The opening ceremony of this great cultural festival will coincide with the beginning of the seventh Cultural, Sports and Tourist Festival for ethnic groups in the Northeast on April 14, with performances by artists from Phu Tho and several other provinces as well as national theatre groups.

In the spotlight at the historic Den Hung relic complex will be a special arts programme in celebration of the coming 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, together with folk games, a Chung (square) cake wrapping contest, a marital arts show, and a fireworks display.

Many other activities such as exhibitions, sports and tourism will take place continuously throughout the 10-day festival in Viet Tri City and the Den Hung complex.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son says that the number of overseas Vietnamese returning home for the occasion is expected to triple or even quadruple.

Ready for the event
Phu Tho Province has completed all the basic preparatory work in order to hold the approaching Hung Temple Festival and the Sports and Culture Festival for ethnic groups.

Before the events, numerous construction projects surrounding the relic site are being spruced up to welcome this significant festival. Van Anh, an official from the Hung Temple’s management board, says that the board is restoring and preserving relic sites in order to maintain the original architecture of the Hung Temple.

This year’s festival, which will last until April 23, is expected to welcome about five million pilgrims.

The provincial authorities are working closely with various agencies to ensure security and traffic safety for the visitors.