A set of three stamps featuring the Hung Kings worship belief was issued on April 23 to mark the 2015 Hung Kings Tempe Festival.
Thestamps, designed by painter Vo Luong Nhi and Vu Kim Lien, consist ofthree samples and one block. The collection features the entrance to theHung Kings Temple, Hung Kings worship rituals, and Vietnamese ethnicgroups’ preparations to offer gift to the Hung Kings.
The uniquepractice of worshiping the Hung Kings in the northern province of PhuTho was recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible culturalheritage in 2012.
The Hung Kings Festival is held annually fromthe eight to the eleventh days of the third lunar month in honour of thelegendary founders of the nation. The main festival day, which has beena public holiday in Vietnam since 2007, is on the tenth day, whichfalls on April 28 this year.
An estimated 6-7million people are expected to turn out for this year's festival, whichwill run from April 23-28 at Hung Vuong Square in Viet Tri city, Phu Thoprovince.
"The authorities will do their best tohelp locals and tourists enjoy the festival," said Ha Ke San, ViceChairman of the Provincial People's Committee. He added that a wide anddiverse range of folk cultural activities and events had been planned.
The festival will open with an art performance thatwill be aired on Vietnam Television's VTV1 channel at 8pm on April 25.It will also include a spectacular fireworks display at the closingceremony.
Other events include worshipping the founder of the nation and making ritual offerings.
Foodcontests have also been planned for the festival, which has beenorganised by Phu Tho in collaboration with Son La, Phu Yen, Dak Nong,Tien Giang and Bac Lieu provinces. A travel promotion fair will be heldat the site featuring 70 booths displaying the tourism potential ofeight provinces in the north-west region.
Various sporting and cultural activities, including tennis and volleyball tournaments and art shows, will also be held.
There will be various activities of xoan (local spring folk) singing -a world intangible heritage during the festival, including communityperformances and performances by artists from villages where the folkart originated. A separate festival for youth singing will also be heldduring the festival.
San said the organising board would fine hotels and restaurants that raised prices.
The organisers have also set up hotlines (0210.3860026 or0210.6551666) that will operate 24 hours a day during the festival foruse by visitors in case of emergency.
King Hung is the titlegiven to the ancient Vietnamese rulers of the Hong Bang period (2879–258BC). They were kings of Van Lang.
The first Hungking, Kinh Duong Vuong, came to power in 2879 BC, ruling an areacovering what is now North Vietnam and Yunan in what is now part ofsouthern China. He founded the Hong Bang dynasty, whose members ruledVietnam until 258 BC.
The second reign of Hung kings was founded by Lac Long Quan, son of Kinh Duong Vuong.
The descendants took the title of Hung Vuong after the first king, andmany Vietnamese folktales mention them. Stories tell of the heroics of18 different ruling periods of Hung Kings (one explains the introductionof the watermelon with the help of Hung Vuong the Tenth).
Although the official name of the festival is the Anniversary of thedeath of the Hung Kings, the date is traditional and does not mark anyspecific death date.-VNA
Thestamps, designed by painter Vo Luong Nhi and Vu Kim Lien, consist ofthree samples and one block. The collection features the entrance to theHung Kings Temple, Hung Kings worship rituals, and Vietnamese ethnicgroups’ preparations to offer gift to the Hung Kings.
The uniquepractice of worshiping the Hung Kings in the northern province of PhuTho was recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible culturalheritage in 2012.
The Hung Kings Festival is held annually fromthe eight to the eleventh days of the third lunar month in honour of thelegendary founders of the nation. The main festival day, which has beena public holiday in Vietnam since 2007, is on the tenth day, whichfalls on April 28 this year.
An estimated 6-7million people are expected to turn out for this year's festival, whichwill run from April 23-28 at Hung Vuong Square in Viet Tri city, Phu Thoprovince.
"The authorities will do their best tohelp locals and tourists enjoy the festival," said Ha Ke San, ViceChairman of the Provincial People's Committee. He added that a wide anddiverse range of folk cultural activities and events had been planned.
The festival will open with an art performance thatwill be aired on Vietnam Television's VTV1 channel at 8pm on April 25.It will also include a spectacular fireworks display at the closingceremony.
Other events include worshipping the founder of the nation and making ritual offerings.
Foodcontests have also been planned for the festival, which has beenorganised by Phu Tho in collaboration with Son La, Phu Yen, Dak Nong,Tien Giang and Bac Lieu provinces. A travel promotion fair will be heldat the site featuring 70 booths displaying the tourism potential ofeight provinces in the north-west region.
Various sporting and cultural activities, including tennis and volleyball tournaments and art shows, will also be held.
There will be various activities of xoan (local spring folk) singing -a world intangible heritage during the festival, including communityperformances and performances by artists from villages where the folkart originated. A separate festival for youth singing will also be heldduring the festival.
San said the organising board would fine hotels and restaurants that raised prices.
The organisers have also set up hotlines (0210.3860026 or0210.6551666) that will operate 24 hours a day during the festival foruse by visitors in case of emergency.
King Hung is the titlegiven to the ancient Vietnamese rulers of the Hong Bang period (2879–258BC). They were kings of Van Lang.
The first Hungking, Kinh Duong Vuong, came to power in 2879 BC, ruling an areacovering what is now North Vietnam and Yunan in what is now part ofsouthern China. He founded the Hong Bang dynasty, whose members ruledVietnam until 258 BC.
The second reign of Hung kings was founded by Lac Long Quan, son of Kinh Duong Vuong.
The descendants took the title of Hung Vuong after the first king, andmany Vietnamese folktales mention them. Stories tell of the heroics of18 different ruling periods of Hung Kings (one explains the introductionof the watermelon with the help of Hung Vuong the Tenth).
Although the official name of the festival is the Anniversary of thedeath of the Hung Kings, the date is traditional and does not mark anyspecific death date.-VNA
