Phu Tho

Journey to Vietnam’s historic cradle, where the revered Hung Kings Temple stands as a timeless tribute to the nation’s legendary founders, and nearby highlands invite you to explore rich ethnic traditions and breathtaking landscapes.

Nestled in northern Vietnam where rivers meet forested hills, Phu Tho is a land steeped in history and spiritual significance — often referred to as the cradle of Vietnamese civilization. It is here that the ancient Hung Kings established the first Vietnamese state, a legacy still honored today through generations of tradition, ritual, and pride.

At the heart of Phu Tho lies the revered Hung Kings Temple complex, perched atop Nghia Linh Mountain. Every year, thousands gather here during the Hung Kings Festival to pay homage to Vietnam’s legendary ancestors in ceremonies rich with symbolism and national identity. This sacred site offers not only a spiritual journey, but also sweeping views across valleys that have nurtured Vietnamese culture for millennia. Nearby Mai Chau and parts of Hoa Binh province — now part of the broader regional tourism landscape — offer scenic mountain escapes, with stilt-house homestays, ethnic minority cultures, and breathtaking terraced fields that unfold like natural amphitheaters.

Whether you're drawn by history, seeking cultural connection, or simply looking for a slower pace in nature's embrace, Phu Tho offers a meaningful journey into the origins of a nation — authentic, reflective, and deeply Vietnamese.

Weather

30.73°C

Clouds

Winter	21°C	31°C
Spring	21°C	31°C
Summer	21°C	31°C
Fall	21°C	31°C

Best time to visit

Summer

February to August

Spring

December to March

Transportation

Private car

Public Transportation

Rental

Top things to do in Phu Tho

Soak in the mineral rich waters of Thanh Thuy hot springs

Cycle through rice paddies and stay in a stilt house in Mai Chau

Immerse yourself in the elegance of Xoan Singing - Vietnam’s Intangible Heritage

Celebrate Vietnam’s Ancestral Spirit at the Hung Kings Festival

Savor the taste of time-honored dishes in Vietnam’s Ancestral Land

Celebrate Vietnam's Vibrant Events & Festivals

7 Mar
to 9 Mar

Dao Xa Elephant Procession Festival

Phu Tho

The festival aims to preserve historical values, cultural activities, and the agricultural beliefs of wet-rice cultivation, as well as the worship of water deities by the inhabitants of the Ancestral Land. It's an occasion for local people to commemorate their ancestors who contributed to nation-building and village establishment, and to pray for blessings, good fortune, favorable weather, bountiful harvests, peace for the people, and prosperity for the nation.

14 Feb
to 16 Feb

Au Co Mother Temple Festival

Phu Tho

The Mother Au Co Temple Festival is held over three days, starting from the 5th day of the first lunar month, with the main ceremony taking place on the "celestial descent" day, the 7th. Other ceremonies throughout the year include the 12th day of the third month, the 13th day of the eighth month, and the "celestial ascent" day on the 25th of the twelfth month. At 8 AM on the 6th day of the first lunar month, people flock to Hien Luong Commune, Ha Hoa District, to witness the opening of the festival and participate in cultural, sports, and entertainment activities rich in national identity.

12 Feb
to 14 Feb

Bach Hac Dragon Boat Race Festival

Phu Tho

The festival is organized to honor Thổ lệnh Đại Vương (a revered deity). Within the framework of the festival, many ancient customs are revived, notably the boat racing competition on the Lô River and a traditional board game called cờ bỏi. The festival also features a 'throwing còn' game at Đền Cả (the Main Temple), a ceremony for offering the còn, reciting còn poems, and offerings of rice. On the final day of the festival, there's a ceremony to take down the còn and a scramble for the còn to bring good luck. The custom of scrambling for the còn, which takes place during the festival on the third day of the first lunar month, is a special enjoyment for the villagers. On this day, even people from neighboring communes flock here to watch and sometimes even participate in the scramble. Generally, the games and rituals are similar to those found in other spring and autumn festivals in the Northern region.

21 Mar
to 22 Mar

Phu Ninh Buffalo Fighting Festival

Phu Tho

Phu Ninh Buffalo Fighting Festival has a long history, organized to commemorate King Hùng based on an ancient legend where King Hùng, while hunting through Phu Ninh commune (Phu Ninh district, Phu Tho province), killed two tigers that were fighting.

21 Feb
to 22 Feb

Hien Quan Ball-Throwing Festival

Phu Tho

The festival aims to commemorate and honor the contributions of female general Thiều Hoa Princess - Đức Thánh Mẫu Đại Vương, who assisted the Trưng Sisters in fighting invaders and saving the country. It is also an occasion for the people to recall the nation's tradition of nation-building and safeguarding, and to express the principle of 'drinking water, remembering the source' (gratitude).

20 Feb
to 21 Feb

Tro Tram Festival

Phu Tho

The festival begins with the performance of "Tứ dân chi nghiệp," also known as "bách nghệ khôi hài"—a humorous folk play about the four main traditional professions: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.Following this, the ritual ceremonies performed by the village elders take place from 10:30 PM on the 11th until midnight on the 12th of the first lunar month. These rituals are conducted with solemnity and reverence.

16 Apr
to 19 Apr

Hung Kings' Temple Festival

Phu Tho

The Hùng Temple Festival is the largest among the traditional festivals of Phú Thọ as well as the festivals of the Vietnamese nation. During these days, people from all over the country flock to Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain, Hy Cương Commune, Việt Trì City, to collectively honor the Hùng Kings. Additionally, it is an occasion for gathering, celebrating the prosperity of the Vietnamese lineage, and serving as a symbol of community spirit, reminding the Vietnamese people to unite in building an increasingly prosperous nation.

10 Feb
to 15 Feb

Kim Đức Village Xoan Singing Festival

Phu Tho

This is a prominent festival that reflects the folk cultural activities characteristic of the communal temple of wet-rice farming communities. With its unique performance style, the content reflects social, familial, and village relationships, as well as deep affection for the homeland, expressing the profound humanism and cultural essence of the Kim Đức village residents showcased in the Xoan Singing Festival.

10 Feb
to 15 Feb

Hùng Lô Village Festival

Phu Tho

The ceremonial part includes the following rituals: Offering tributes to the Hùng Kings, consisting of bánh chưng, bánh giầy, fruits, and products crafted by the villagers. Following the ceremony, the villagers organize a palanquin procession to the Hùng Temple. The procession consists of 200 to 400 people dressed in traditional festival attire, carrying four ornate palanquins adorned with red lacquer and gold leaf, intricately carved with great craftsmanship.

18 Feb
to 19 Feb

Mộ Chu Hạ Communal House Rice Cake Pounding Festival

Phu Tho

According to legend, during the resistance against the Song invaders, General Lê Hoàn, the Ten-Direction Commander, once led his troops to retreat to Mộ Chu Hạ village as night fell, with both men and horses exhausted. The king ordered his soldiers to rest, and the next morning, the villagers pounded rice cakes (bánh giầy) to offer the king as provisions (that day was the 10th of the first lunar month). Thanks to those rice cakes, the soldiers regained their strength to fight the enemy. Over hundreds of years, the rice cakes of Mộ Chu Hạ village have been preserved in their original shape and flavor, and are offered to the Hùng Kings during the annual Ancestral Commemoration Ceremony. The traditional rice cake pounding custom of Mộ Chu Hạ village has become a beautiful cultural tradition in the homeland of the ancestral land.

7 Mar
to 9 Mar