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Hung King's Temple

Hung King Temple is a complex of majestic buildings built in the 15^th century to be dedicated to Hung Emperors. Located on Nghia Linh mountain, Hy Lang commune, Phong Chau district, Phu Tho province, it is also the place where the Hung King Temple Festival is held every year, reminding Vietnamese people of their origins of culture.

There are three main sites including Lower Temple, Middle Temple, Upper Temple respectively situated from the foot to the top of the mountain.

225 hike-up steps from Dai Mon Gate lies Lower Temple. According to the legend, it was the place where the primal mother Au Co giving birthday to a pouch of 100 eggs producing 100 children. Half of them followed their father Lac Long Quan down to the coastal area while 49 of them were led by their mother up to the mountainous region. There was still the eldest child left, Hung Vuong, to become the King who then set the capital in Phong Chau and named the country Van Lang.

The steps continue to the Middle Temple where Hung Kings took a rest and hold political meeting. On the summit of the mountain is Upper Temple where ceremonies were held to be dedicated to the gods of heaven and earth. Coming here can also be a chance to visit the 6^th Hung King tomb.

At the foot of the mountain is the well filled with clean water throughout four seasons. It is also the worshipping place of the 18^th Hung King's daughter, Ngoc Hoa and Tien Dung who were in the habit of brushing their hair and looking at themselves in the water of the well.

The Temple is known nationwide through the Hung King Temple Festival organized on the 10^th of the lunar March which has become the national holiday from 2007. It is regarded as one of the most important and sacred festival in Vietnam showing Vietnamese people's love of their ancestral land.

Going beyond the purely destination for tourists near and far, Hung King Temple is the homeland that has long been embedded in every Vietnamese citizen's mind.