Returning to Nghia Linh in the Third Lunar Month

Phu Tho Province is racing against time to finalize preparations for this year’s Hung Temple Festival. With the participation of numerous agencies and the collective efforts of 18 communal clusters across the province, the region is heading toward a solemn, safe, and identity-rich festival season.

Renovating for the Opening Ceremony

Despite the recent heatwave, the atmosphere at the Hung Temple Historic Site (Hy Cuong Commune) remains urgent and vibrant. Hundreds of staff members have been mobilized to landscape the environment and sanitize the entire Nghia Linh mountain complex.

The scene is further energized by nearly 300 young members of the Phu Tho “Trash Lovers” Club and volunteers from Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Hung Yen. Together, they have cleaned the pathways and planted 500 new trees along the route to the Temple of Mother Au Co. Currently, the temples, stairways, promenades, and ceremonial axes are fully equipped with additional trash bins, restrooms, and clear signage for safety and fire prevention.

Medical stations at all temples are staffed with doctors and nurses, maintaining a 24/7 duty roster throughout the 10-day festival. Ample medical supplies, ambulances, and specialized equipment are stationed at key points around the mountain foot.

During the holidays, a vast number of residents and tourists return to the Hung Temple Festival.

The site has installed over 300 banners, 1,000 festival flags, and numerous QR code boards for quick access to festival information. Hotline numbers for emergency medical aid, security, and lost-and-found services are prominently displayed in crowded areas. At the Hung Vuong Museum, the courtyard has been elegantly repaved, and the guest reception house is nearing completion.

The cultural camp area is buzzing as 18 communal clusters representing the former provinces of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, and Hoa Binh set up their camps. Mr. Nguyen Huy Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee, emphasized that all camps must ensure aesthetic appeal and structural durability to be reused in following years and serve tourists year-round.

Vibrant Activities Leading Up to the Festival

Recently, a series of activities have kicked off in Viet Tri City and the Historic Site. Following incense-offering ceremonies by local wards, various sports events have ignited the atmosphere. These include the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City Television Cup National Cycling Race, the Hung Temple Marathon with over 4,000 participants, and the upcoming Hung Vuong Cup Golf Tournament involving 600 golfers.

The “Roots” Marathon was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on athletes of a hospitable and peaceful Phu Tho. Photo: Contributor

For the first time, dozens of communes are represented in this grand national festival. Visitors will have the chance to experience the unique gong performances and “dam duong” rituals brought by ethnic communities from the former Hoa Binh area. While the young men of Co Tich Village (Hy Cuong Commune) practice for the palanquin procession, artisans of ancient Xoan villages (Van Phu Commune) are rehearsing to bring the best of this intangible heritage to the stage. Furthermore, a Street Folk Festival and a high-altitude fireworks display are ready to welcome visitors to Viet Tri.

Mr. Pham Tien Dat, Director of the Hung Temple Historic Site, confirmed that preparations are on schedule, ensuring a solemn, safe, and cost-effective festival. The Provincial Police have implemented comprehensive traffic flow and security plans using a command center and surveillance cameras.

Accelerating tree planting and landscaping of the Historic Site to build a “Green, Clean, and Beautiful” Hung Temple in the hearts of visitors from near and far.

The establishment of a Press Center, where reporters are encouraged to act as “culture and tourism ambassadors,” demonstrates the province’s determination to promote the image of the Ancestral Land.

Returning to Nghia Linh in the third lunar month is not just a sightseeing trip but a sacred journey back to one’s roots. In this holy space, every Vietnamese person feels their soul purified and their pride in their homeland bolstered. The Hung Temple Festival remains an eternal spiritual anchor and a string that connects the Vietnamese community, guiding them back to their origins as they step firmly into the future of development.

Quoc Tung