Visitors to the Hung Temple Relic are asked to wear masks and keep their distance from others. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kien

HÀ NỘI — The Hung Kings Festival, which pays tribute to the founders and first kings of the nation, will be held similarly to last year, with ceremonial activities but no festivities.

The plans for the national major festival were decided at a meeting of the People's Committee of the northern province of Phu Thọ where it is held annually.

The ceremonies will be conducted with the death anniversary of the great father of the nation Lạc Long Quan and the incense offering to commemorate great mother of the nation Âu Cơ on April 17 and incense offering ceremony to commemorate the Hung Kings and the flower offering ceremony on April 21.

Speaking at the meeting, vice chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hồ Đại Dũng said the event would take place in a respectful atmosphere, while strictly abiding by measures to prevent COVID-19 from spreading under the guidance of the Ministry of Health.

This is the second year the Hung Kings Festival will include only ceremonial activities and no festivities. 

According to Le Trường Giang, director of the Hung Kings Temple Relic Management Board, the temple received more than 20,000 visitors on the occasion of Tết (Lunar New Year).

“The measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have been taken seriously at the historical site. At the same time, the visitors’ awareness has been much improved this year,” he said.

The Hung Kings Temple Relic Complex covers more than 1,000ha, more than half of which is forest. The complex is scattered with dozens of temples dedicated to the legendary kings.

There are some 300 temples dedicated to the Hung Kings and other figures from the Hồng Bang dynasty (2879 to 258 BC) in Phu Thọ, and nearly 1,500 sites dedicated to the kings throughout the country.

UNESCO placed the "Worship of Hung kings in Phu Thọ" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 6, 2012,

The Hung Kings Festival is held annually from the 8th to the 11th day of the third lunar month, which falls on April 19 to April 22 this year, as a tribute to the Hung Kings who are credited with establishing the nation.

The main festival day, which is also a public holiday in Viet Nam, is on the 10th day or April 21. — VNS