Vietnam’s Hung King Veneration Ritual has been officially recoganised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

The recognition was announced at the 7th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paris on December 6.

The 18 Hung Kings are worshiped in more than 1,400 relics across the country, which reflects the Vietnamese people’s respect to the ancestors. On the death anniversary of the Hung Kings, which falls on the 10th of the third lunar month, the Hung Kings Temple Festival is held in the ancestral land of Phu Tho Province.

The Festival has become a symbol of national unity and spirit and is a chance for Vietnamese people both at home and overseas to express their gratitude to their ancestors.

Before Hung King Veneration Ritual, Vietnam has had six intangible heritages of humanity recognised by UNESCO including Nha Nhac - Vietnamese Court Music, the Space of Gong Culture in Central Highland, Bac Ninh's Quan Ho folk songs, Ca Tru singing, Xoan singing of Phu Tho Province, Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc Temples (Hanoi).