Hung Kings Temple Special National Historical Relic Site — A Sacred Destination of National Origin

Hung Kings Temple — the place of worship for the Hung Kings who founded the nation, the shared ancestors of the Vietnamese people — serves as a sacred space converging and radiating historical, cultural, spiritual values, and the spirit of great national unity. On the ancestral land where the Hung Kings established Van Lang, the Hung Kings Temple Special National Historical Relic Site has become a spiritual meeting point for compatriots nationwide; a site where every Vietnamese returns to honor ancestral merits, cultivate national pride, and heighten civic responsibility toward their homeland.

A large number of residents and tourists visit the Hung Temple Special National Historical Relic Site.

The Hung Kings Temple Special National Historical Relic Site features a harmonious system of monuments, cultural and spiritual works, and natural landscapes, including Lower Temple (Den Ha), Thien Quang Pagoda, Middle Temple (Den Trung), Upper Temple (Den Thuong), Hung Vuong Tomb, Gieng Temple, National Ancestor Lac Long Quan Temple, Ancestral Mother Au Co Temple, and supporting cultural facilities. Each monument and worship space is tied to legends, traces, and cultural layers from the Hung King Era, creating deep history, distinct identity, and unique appeal.

Alongside its historical value, Hung Kings Temple is surrounded by a rich forest area housing 636 plant species, including ancient and rare trees such as a cycad nearly 800 years old, a frangipani over 300 years old, and straight cho trees (Parashorea chinensis)... forming a serene, solemn green space. The harmony between heritage, natural landscape, and community spiritual life gives Hung Temple its unique vitality.

Hung Temple holds special significance as the site marking two visits by President Ho Chi Minh. On September 19, 1954, he instructed: “The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the country, you and I must together defend it.” On August 19, 1962, he further advised to “protect and plant more flowers and trees” so that Hung Temple would become increasingly solemn and beautiful, turning into a “historical park” for future generations.

Inscribing Uncle Ho’s teachings, for over 70 years, the Party Committee, local authorities, and people of Phu Tho Province, together with the Hung Kings Temple Historical Relic Site management, have consistently focused on protecting and embellishing the landscape, growing forests, and step-by-step realizing the goal of building Hung Kings Temple into a historical-cultural park.

To date, within its 845-hectare planning area, the relic site continues to plant supplementary forests, tend flower gardens, landscape carpets, and green tree systems. In 2025, the unit planted over 3,000 trees of various types, including over 1,200 trees donated by agencies, units, businesses, and individuals. The Spring 2026 Tree Planting Festival (“Eternally grateful to Uncle Ho”) planted nearly 1,170 trees, contributing to a sustainable green landscape while spreading heritage protection awareness across the community.

Along with landscape preservation, monument management and value promotion have been modernized professionally. Right from the beginning of 2026, the Hung Kings Temple Historical Relic Site proactively advised and coordinated the successful organization of the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and Ancestral Land Culture-Tourism Week, ensuring solemnity, safety, and politeness while attracting vast numbers of compatriots and tourists.

Communication and promotion work have been stepped up across both traditional methods and digital platforms. In the first 6 months of 2026, thousands of news items were broadcast over radio systems; nearly 1,000 news articles were published on the electronic portal and fanpage; over 500 billboards/banners and nearly 1,000 festival flags were installed. Digital transformation is gradually becoming an effective tool in management and visitor service. Digital maps, smart directional systems, security cameras, and a 53m2 LED screen at the Festival Center Gate contribute to operational efficiency, information supply, visitor support, and promotional outreach. Cultural, service, and tourism activities have been innovated, including cultural camps, OCOP product displays from 18 commune/ward clusters, a Martial Arts Cultural Essence Festival, Dragon & Lion dances, artistic orchid displays, and the “Hung Kings Temple Night Tour — Sacred Origin” (which served nearly 500 visitors). In the first 6 months, the relic site welcomed over 6.5 million visitors.

Forest protection, fire prevention, environmental hygiene, and planning management were strengthened. Over 500 tons of domestic waste were collected and processed promptly. Financial and asset management was executed strictly, transparently, and economically.

Moving forward, the Hung Kings Temple Historical Relic Site will focus on finalizing procedures for adjusting the Master Plan for the Preservation and Promotion of the Values of the Hung Temple Special National Historical Relic Site up to 2040, alongside completing the Reorganization Scheme for the relic site under the direction of the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee.

Preserving monuments must go hand-in-hand with promoting value, maintaining sanctity, and original integrity, while meeting the cultural exploration and experience needs of residents, tourists, and overseas Vietnamese.

Building upon achieved results, the Hung Kings Temple Historical Relic Site will continue to unite, innovate, apply science and technology, protect landscapes, and promote traditional cultural values — step-by-step building Hung Temple into a sacred, civilized, and attractive destination of origin for compatriots nationwide.

Pham Tien Dat — Director of the Hung Kings Temple Historical Relic Site