The opening ceremony of Hung King Festival was held at the Hung Temple in Phu Tho Province on the morning of March 27, promising a series of special cultural activities.

Hung Kings festival 2012 officially launched

This year's festival will run from March 26-31 and feature ceremonial and festive activities in the precinct of Hung Temple historical relic in Viet Tri City.

Incense offering rituals will be carried out at the temples of Lac Long Quan and Au Co - the mythical founders of Vietnam and at Foremost Temple.

The focus of the ceremonies this year would be the palanquin parade on March 29 with the attendance of foreign diplomats and officials of UNESCO Vietnam and Vietnam National UNESCO Committee.

A photo exhibition on items dating back to the period of the Hung Kings Dynasty’s reign will be shown at the Hung Vuong Museum as part of an effort by Phu Tho provincial government to finalise the document to seek the UNESCO recognition for the Hung Kings worship rituals as a world intangible cultural heritage.

Performing groups from Dien Bien, Binh Duong, and Nghe An provinces, as well as Haiphong and Danang cities will add more colours to the festival's activities.

Visitors will also have a chance to experience several traditional cultural activities, including lion dances, boat racing, chung and day cake making contest, in addition to a men’s volleyball contest, Chinese chess, traditional wrestling, and archery.

Xoan singing, which was recently recognised by UNESCO as world intangible cultural heritage will also be highlighted.

The director of Hung Temple historical relics, Nguyen Xuan Cac, told DTiNews, “We’ve carried out measures to ensure public order, ensure hygiene and professionalise the organisation of the festival. Repairs and embellishment have been completed at some required places before the launch of the festival”.

According to the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, 30 outstanding overseas Vietnamese will return Vietnam to take part in the festival.