Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Hundreds of thousands of locals and foreign travel-lers will have a chance to join the Hung Kings Anniversary and Hung Temple Festival 2005 starting next Wednesday in the midland province of Phu Tho.

"The festival is aimed at confirming the position and great meaning of the anniversary of the death of our Hung Kings," said Nguyen Thi Kim Hai deputy head of the State festival organising committee. "It is a day of national patriotism and expressing our profound gratitude toward the Hung Kings and our ancestors for building our country and defending it."

Hai, who is also vice chairwoman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, said the festival is also aimed at educating people, particularly youngsters about Vietnamese morality. These ideals include remembering where you came from, developing the unity of the nation, and building an advanced and deeply traditional Vietnamese culture.

The event would also help to build the Hung Temple heritage area and Viet Tri city into a cultural centre and boost tourism in the province.

"Through the event we also aim to improve the local people’s cultural lifestyles as well as our ability to manage a festival on a national scale," said Hai.

A grand incense presentation ceremony in commemoration of the Hung Kings at Thuong Temple, Nghia Linh Mountain will be held.

The evening will open with a great festival night with an epic performance programme featuring over 2,000 actors and actresses from Phu Tho and other provinces, and will end with a colourful shooting performance.

Also participating will be the Viet Nam Song and Dance Troupe, the Thang Long Song and Dance Troup, the traditional music troupes nationwide and some art troupes from Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.

In addition, the festival will feature bronze drumming performances from the local Muong ethnic minority, xoan folk songs and much more.

Traditional sports on festival days will include human chess, wrestling and boat contests.

The five-day festival will end on April 18. 

Viet Nam News, April 8, 2005