About 85km from Ha Noi capital city, Phu Tho province was the original capital of Vietnam began 5000 years ago. There were Hong Bang dynasty reigned by 18 generations of Hung kings.
Legend has it that, Great Father Lac Long Quan and Fairy Mother Au Co were the national parents of Vietnam. He was born and grew up like holy dragon, while his wife lived in moutainous area who became a lady fairy. One day, she gave birth a sack containing 100 eggs from which one hundred sons emerged. But Lac Long Quan prefered to live by the sea, so that they separated with half of their sons follow each parent. The first son followed Fairy Mother Au Co became the first Hung king, Hung Duc Vuong reigned Van Lang – as known as the first ancient state of Viet Nam.
Nowadays, Hung King Temple in Viet Tri city, is the place that we always celebrate National Anniversary on 10th March in Lunar Calendar. This ceremony are organized by two main parts: the first one is Rite and Festival is the rest. On that day, not only the people of Vietnam but also oversea Vietnamese consider it as a national holiday. This convention is known as ancestor worship which is one of the Intangible Cultural Heritages of Vietnam, has been recognized by UNESCO in 2012.