Home of the Hung Kings: Six Must See Tourist Destinations In Phu Tho

The province has a total area of 3528.1 km2. Phu Tho’s location gives it an important mission: being the center of the Northern region of Vietnam. It is the gate connecting the north-western provinces and Hanoi, as well as other provinces on the Red River Delta. Thus, the topography of Phu Tho is extremely diverse, featuring all kinds of terraces such as mountains, hills, plains, etc. Among all of them, the large area of rich plains is considered the strength of the province, as it allows a whole spectrum of tourism activities to develop: Eco-tours, amusement parks, resorts, etc.

Coming to Phu Tho, there are several well-known spots for you to choose from. In May, Phu Tho is one of the 12 provinces and cities hosting the 31st SEA Games.

1. Hung Temple

Photo: Vietnammoi

Hung Temple is located in Co Tich Commune, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, to worship the Hung Kings who built the country and the ancestors of the Vietnamese nation. Hung King’s Temple is about 7 kilometers from Viet Tri to the North and about 90 kilometers from Hanoi. From Hanoi, tourists can visit Hung Temple by the road along Highway 2 or the Hanoi – Lao Cai railway.

Hung Temple is considered the most important historical and cultural relic of the country. The entire relic area has 4 temples, 1 pagoda, and 1 mausoleum that stand harmoniously in the natural landscape. With spectacular high terrain, the land is full of sacred mountains.

The Hung King Temple Festival is held annually from the 8th to the 11th day of the third lunar month. The main festival day is on the 10th day of the third lunar March, on which the National Assembly has approved Vietnamese working people to annually have one more national holiday to mark the anniversary of the Hung King’s death.

The Hung King Temple Festival is one of the most important and sacred festivals of the Vietnamese people, deeply embedded in the minds of every Vietnamese citizen, regardless of where they originated from.

2. Hung Vuong Museum

Photo: Tripzone

Built in the late 1980s, the Hung Vuong Museum is a popular destination. Its design is based on the Vietnamese people’s ancient philosophy that the earth was square and the sky was round. Covering nearly 1,000 square meters, the 2-storey museum recalls a legend concerning Banh Chung (square sticky rice cake) and Banh Giay (round sticky rice cake).

The museum has nearly 700 original objects and thousands of reproductions that reveal Vietnam’s history from the stone age to the national construction period of the Hung Kings, the Hung Kings’ Temple, and the Hung Kings worshiping rituals.

3. Hung Lo ancient village

Photo: Dulichtaybac

Hung Lo ancient village is located on the banks of the romantic Lo River, about 5km from the center of Viet Tri city. The complex of cultural and historical relics Dinh Hung Lo (Dinh Xom) was built on a 5000m2 wide strip of land. The center of the ancient Kha Lam site then named An Lao commune, is now Hung Lo commune.

Hung Lo communal house was recognized as a national historical monument in 1990 with the great Dai Dinh, the ceremonial hall, and the ancient hundred-year-old houses which are carefully preserved. This is the space for Xoan singing and cultural activities community. Hung Lo village also has traditional noodles and the Banh Chung.

4. Xuan Son National Park

Photo: Motogo

About 120 kilometers from Hanoi, Xuan Son National Park has a total length of 15.000 ha and is one of the 15 largest national parks in Vietnam. It is called “green lungs,” and is an attractive tourist destination of Phu Tho with a forest cover of up to 84%, the quality of the forest ecosystems is stable and well protected. Xuan Son National Park has a cool and fresh climate with an average temperature of 22-23ºC.

Currently, the park has a total of 365 species, of which 46 are classified in Vietnam’s Data Red Book and 18 are listed in the IUCN Red List. Meanwhile, the garden also has 726 species of higher plants, of which 52 species belong to the phylum and gymnosperm.

Aside from the richness of flowers and fauna, Xuan Son also has many interesting natural landscapes. There are three highest mountain peaks, including Voi mountain, Ten, and Can mountains with hundreds of caves, river streams, and waterfalls, surrounded by the poetic and majestic scenery.

5. Thousand–year–old sesame buds

Photo: Dantri

The population of sesame buds is located in Chuong Xa Commune, Cam Khe District, and is also one of the best tourist destinations in Phu Tho. From a distance, the population of sesame buds looks like a dense forest. According to the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, the population has more than 80 trees, growing on a mound that is about 500m2, on Lang Chuong Lagoon. Very few documents record the exact age of this population of sesame buds, but many people estimate it to be more than 1,000 years old.

6. Long Coc tea hill

Photo: cungphuot.info

Long Coc tea hill, which is located in Tan Son district, Phu Tho, is considered one of the most beautiful tea hills in Vietnam, with hundreds of small hills. At the time of autumn and early winter, the hills are covered with fanciful fog. The “tea oases” of Long Coc are known as “Ha Long Bay in the Midlands” when possessing the largest and most mesmerizing tea hills. Bat Tien, Phuc Van Tien, and Shan Tuyet are among the popular types of tea grown in Long Coc. The local people often harvest tea from 6 am to ensure its freshness.