Vietnam is hosting a vast array of events to mark the holidays around National Reunification Day on April 30 and May Day on May 1, with the Hung King’s Temple Festival adding even more colour to the holiday break.

The Hung King’s Temple Festival

The national festival is held at the Hung King Temple in Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, from the eighth to the 11th days of the third lunar  month (April 29 to May 3). The purpose of this ceremony is to pay tribute to the contribution of the Hung Kings, the traditional founders of the nation and Vietnam's first emperors. Beginning as a local holiday, the ceremony gained national status in 2007.

This festival’s activities include a palanquin procession to the Hung King festivals of surrounding communes, Xoan singing, or hát xoan (spring singing) and a photo exhibition, among many others cultural events.

The festival is expected to attract up to seven million visitors.

Hot air balloon festival, Hanoi

Balloons will be aloft above the urban township development Ecopark in Hanoi from April 30 to May 2, with flights from 6:30am-9:00am and 3:00pm-6:30 pm, reaching heights of 40-50 metres.

On the ground, a food festival, camping, art performances, and folk games are planned.

Carnival Ha Long

Opening on May 8 in downtown Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, the carnival will include fireworks and stage performances and live street performances.

A street event, themed “Ha Long Smile”, will feature some 10 carriages decorated with flowers, with thousands of performers.

Danang International Fireworks Competition

The Danang International Fireworks Competition, from April 29 to May 3, will draw pyrotechnic teams from South Africa, the US, Australia, Poland, and the home team Danang.

Hue crafts festival

Two hundred artisans from 40 craft villages across Vietnam will gather for a large-scale festival honouring their skills and creations in central Thua Thien-Hue province from April 28 to May 2.

Sewing, embroidery, jewellery-making and pottery are among a wide range of conventional crafts presented at the event.

The festival will also host a feast of Hue cuisine, workshops, photo exhibitions, kite flying and boat racing.

Fireworks display to mark National Reunification Day in Hanoi

Hanoi will set off fireworks at five locations on National Reunification Day on April 30.

The high-altitude 15-minute display starts at 9pm, with Hoan Kiem Lake, Thong Nhat Park, Van Quan Lake, My Dinh National Stadium and Son Tay Town’s Flower Garden as focal points for pyrotechnics.