The worship of Hung Kings originates from Hung Kings dynasty and had strongly developed for a long time before officially honored in Post Le Dynasty (1428 – 1788). The later dynasties and Vietnamese Government always pay attention and encourage people to maintain the worship of Hung Kings.
Every year, on the 10th day of the third lunar month, Hung Kings Ancestral Anniversary day is held at Hung Kings temples nationwide, of which biggest one takes place in Hung Kings Temple Relic Site (Phu Tho Province). In Phu Tho, each village selects a Festival Organizing Board (Ban Khanh Tiet) of 6-9 mature, knowledgeable individuals of good conducts who lead and manage the rituals. The Board appoints suitably expert temple guardians to tend worship sites, instruct devotees and offer incense to Hung Kings year round.
The offerings for the ceremonies (opening, procession, closing) are carefully prepared including sticky rice, fruit, wine, rice, salt, boiled chicken, raw pork (black pig), chung cake and day cake…
The worship ritual consists of incense burning, offerings presenting, testament reading, praying, performance of traditional art such as bronze drum beating, Xoan singing… During the festival, folk games are also organized such as catching a goat while blindfolded, tug of war, flag scoop, boat racing, duck catching in pond…
With unique and distinct values, on 6 December 2012, in Paris (France), UNESCO officially recognized the worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho Province as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is the first belief in Viet Nam recognized as world heritage.
