Festivals and celebrationsSoutheast AsiaIndigenous and traditional
Hùng Kings' Temple Festival
In its own language: Lễ hội đền Hùng
A Vietnamese national festival honoring the legendary founding kings with temple worship and processions.
This annual Vietnamese festival honors the Hùng Kings, traditional founders of the nation. It runs from the first to the tenth day of the third lunar month, culminating in a public holiday on the tenth day when pilgrims visit temples to offer prayers and incense.
When is Hùng Kings' Temple Festival kept?
Hùng Kings' Temple Festival is kept on annually from the 1st to the 10th day of the third lunar month.
The Hùng Kings' Temple Festival is a major Vietnamese observance dedicated to the Hùng Kings, who are revered as the traditional founders and first rulers of the nation. Held annually during the third lunar month, it serves as a vital occasion for paying tribute to these ancestral figures through ritual worship and communal gathering.
Origins and significance
The official title translates to the Death Anniversary of the Hùng Kings, yet the event does not commemorate a specific historical date of death for any single ruler. Instead, it functions as a collective remembrance of the lineage that established the nation. What began as a local holiday has evolved into a recognized national holiday since 2007, reflecting its deep importance to Vietnamese identity and heritage.
Festival duration and scale
The celebrations span ten days, beginning on the first day of the third lunar month and concluding on the tenth. This period allows for extensive participation across communities. The event draws massive crowds, with visitor numbers reaching seven million by 2016, demonstrating its status as one of the most significant cultural gatherings in the country.
Ceremonial processions
The central ritual involves a procession that starts at the base of the mountain. Pilgrims move upward, pausing at smaller shrines along the route before arriving at the High Temple. At each stop, participants offer prayers and burn incense, creating a continuous stream of devotion that connects the community to their ancestors and the sacred landscape.
How Hùng Kings' Temple Festival is kept
Pilgrims participate in a multi-day procession starting at the mountain foot. They stop at various small temples to offer prayers and incense before reaching the High Temple. The tenth day marks the peak of this activity, serving as a public holiday where millions gather to honor the founding kings.
When and where
It occurs annually from the first to the tenth day of the third lunar month, with the main public holiday falling on the tenth day.
The festival is centered in Vietnam, specifically at the Hung Kings Temple site on the mountain, which serves as the primary destination for pilgrims.
What Hùng Kings' Temple Festival means
The festival symbolizes gratitude and remembrance for the Hùng Kings, who are viewed as the traditional founders and first rulers of Vietnam. It reinforces national identity and connects living descendants to their ancestral roots through shared ritual practice.
Questions people ask about Hùng Kings' Temple Festival
When is Hùng Kings' Temple Festival kept?
Hùng Kings' Temple Festival is kept on annually from the 1st to the 10th day of the third lunar month.
What is the Hùng Kings' Temple Festival?
It is an annual Vietnamese festival honoring the Hùng Kings, the traditional founders of the nation. It involves temple worship, processions, and offerings of incense and prayers to pay tribute to these ancestral figures.
Is it a public holiday?
Yes, the tenth day of the festival has been a public holiday in Vietnam since 2007. This recognition highlights its importance as a national observance for all Vietnamese people.
Where does the main ceremony take place?
The major ceremony centers around the High Temple on the mountain. A procession begins at the foot of the mountain, stopping at smaller shrines before reaching the final destination for worship.
See also
Buddha's BirthdayA festival marking the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, observed across Asia with temple rituals and community gatherings.
Double Ninth FestivalAn autumn festival of mountain walks, chrysanthemum wine and ancestor remembrance
ChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared meals
HalloweenAn annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritageGood reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Hùng Kings' Festival", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.
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