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Vietnam is a rich spiritual heritage country, and it's no wonder that spiritual tourism is on the rise! Many sacred religious sites in Vietnam attract visitors eager to explore the country's rich history. And one of the most popular destinations for pilgrims is the Hung Kings Temple Complex, which is widely regarded as the origin of Vietnam. It's a truly special place where visitors can journey back in time and gain a deeper understanding of the country's formation. Let’s Asia King Travel help you on a pilgrimage to this historical landmark.
The main gate of Hung Kings Temple Complex @bulb.io
Hung Kings Temple Complex is situated on Nghia Linh Mountain, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam. It is a sacred complex of temples dedicated to the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the Vietnamese nation. The temple complex is amidst a beautiful landscape of trees and mountains. It is a popular pilgrimage site for Vietnamese people, especially during the Hung Kings Temple Festival, which is held annually in the third lunar month.
Hung Kings Temple view from the top @VOV
Ha Temple or Below Temple, built between the 17th and 18th centuries, consists of two main buildings. The architecture is purely Vietnamese, decorated with reliefs on one side depicting horses and the other side is elephants. The front building is the front hall, while the rear building is the sanctuary. The sanctuary houses the altars for the mountain deity, the Hung Kings, and the princesses Tien Dung and Ngoc Hoa.
Ha Temple is also linked to the legend of Mother Au Co, who is believed to have birthed the first Vietnamese person. By getting around the temple, there are still traces of the "Dragon's Eye" behind it, which is the area where Mother Au Co laid her eggs.
Ha Temple, where the first Vietnamese person was born @VinWonders
After climbing 159 stone steps from Ha Temple, visitors reach Trung Temple (Middle Temple) halfway up the mountain. The Trung Temple, also known as Ancestral Temple of the Hung Kings, is believed to be where the Hung Kings used to gather with their court officials to discuss national affairs.
During the reign of the sixth Hung King, this site held a competition to find a worthy successor for the throne. The youngest prince Lang Lieu won the competition by creating two special dishes: “Banh Chung” and “Banh Giay”, which symbolized the earth and the sky. Impressed by the taste and symbolism of the food, the Hung King passed the throne to Lang Lieu and became the seventh Hung King.
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Trung Temple, where Banh Chung: and Banh Giay were created @VinWonders
From Trung Temple, after climbing about 100 more steps, you will reach Thuong Temple (Top Temple), which is located at the highest point on the mountain.The temple's formal name is "Heaven Worshiping Temple on Mount Nghia Linh."
According to legend, this is where the Hung Kings would perform rituals to worship heaven and pray for prosperity for the nation. It is also the main site for the most important ceremonies during the Hung Kings' death anniversary.
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Thuong Temple - the Heaven Worshiping Temple on Mount Nghia Linh @VinWonders
This 2-story building houses over 700 valuable antiques, including original artifacts, paintings, and reproductions from Vietnam’s glorious history. According to legend, this is the tomb of the sixth Hung King. The tomb is constructed in a position where it leans against the mountain and faces the water.
Despite undergoing several restorations, the tomb of the Hung King still retains its original architecture wall is adorned with tiger-faced decorations, the steps feature carvings of mythical creature qilin and the main gate has two Nom-script couplets expressing the descendants' reverence and gratitude towards their ancestors.
Hung King Mausoleum with historical paintings @VinWonders
Getting down at the foot of the mountain, you’ll find Ngoc ancient well or Gieng Temple, which is believed to be the place where princesses comb their hair and look up at themselves.
Gieng Temple worships two princesses: Tien Dung and Ngoc Hoa. The love story between Princess Tien Dung and God Chu Dong Tu reflects the aspiration for freedom in love and marriage. Meanwhile, the story of Princess Ngoc Hoa and Son Tinh highlights the efforts in water management and establishes a cultural tradition of the Vietnamese people: the custom of bride-price.
Gieng Temple - Worshipping place of princesses @VinWonders
The ideal time to experience the temple's cultural significance and participate in the festivities is from the 8th to the 11th day of the third lunar month. This is the time when the Hung Kings Temple Festival, a national holiday in Vietnam, is held, and the temple complex is packed with locals making a pilgrimage to honor the Hung Kings.
However, if you prefer a quieter visit and want to focus on the historical significance of the temple, then any other time of year is a good option, while winter months (October to January) can be chilly and there are also fewer crowds during this time.
People visit the Hung King Temple Festival @VinWonders
You can choose to stay in various accommodations in Viet Tri City before starting your trip to Hung Kings Temple, from cost-effective and affordable hotels which cost around VND 300,000 per day, to luxurious homestays and amenities priced from VND 2.5 million to over VND 3.5 million.
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If you want to explore the entire Hung Temple historical site, better to have lunch at the restaurants within the premises of the site. However, if the plan is only to visit the temples dedicated to the Hung Kings, it would be better to stop by Viet Tri City for more dining options. The average cost for a meal is about VND 200,000 per person.
Visitors should also consider buying local specialties as gifts and trying them out, such as local palm fruit, sour meat priced from VND 40,000, cassava pancake (banh san), multi-spurred chicken, and five-colored sticky rice.
Sour meat - the speciality of Phu Tho
Hung Kings Temple Complex is only 90 km from Hanoi Capital City. Thus, many tourists choose motorbikes for a day trip. From Noi Bai International Airport, keep going on Highway No.2 to Viet Tri City and then 10 kilometers more to Hung Kings Temple Complex. It should take you less than 3 hours to get there
Another easier transportation option is traveling by coach from Hanoi, usually there is no shortage of coaches to Viet Tri City, in particular, there will be a coach departing almost every 15 minutes. Upon arrival in Viet Tri City, you can catch a taxi or motorbike taxi to Hung Kings Temple at an affordable price.
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Hung Kings Temple Complex is a significant cultural and historical site in Vietnam. With Asia King Travel, you can embark on a journey to explore this sacred site and immerse yourself in Vietnamese rich heritage.
So, don't miss this opportunity to explore the Hung Kings Temple - a must-visit for any history buff or Vietnam enthusiast! Book your tour today on Asia King Travel and embark on a historical voyage you'll never forget!
