Provincial Historical Site: Hung Kings Temple in Da Lat
In the 1940s, the area along Ngo Quyen Street in Cam Ly - Da Lat Ward, was still dense, untouched forest. Migrants from Central Vietnam came to reclaim land and settle, building a small temple on a hillside overlooking pine forests, vegetable fields and flower farms. By 1958, small traders transporting goods between regions joined local residents in contributing resources to construct the Hung Kings Temple.
A spiritual anchor in the highlands
Amid the cold highland climate, the modest temple became a spiritual refuge and a place that bonded the community through a shared sense of origin. Despite hardships, people supported one another with solidarity and compassion.
Nguyen Thi Dao (65), the temple caretaker, recalls following her parents to clean altars and prepare offerings during rituals and festivals. In the earlier days, the temple was just a small structure accessible via a steep trail. Though life was difficult, offerings were always sincere. Over the past 20 years, she has continued preserving the site.
During challenging times, the temple also sheltered vulnerable individuals, reflecting a strong sense of humanity.
In 2004, the former Da Lat People’s Committee rebuilt and expanded the temple on its original site. The design was inspired by Trung Temple within the Hung Temple complex in Phu Tho, featuring traditional architecture. The structure follows a “dinh”-shaped layout, with a solemn front hall and a sacred rear sanctuary, tiled curved roofs and harmonious integration with the surrounding landscape.
Preserving the tradition of gratitude
For nearly 70 years, on the 10th day of the third lunar month each year, residents from across the Da Lat area have gathered at the temple to commemorate the Hung Kings. The ceremony is conducted solemnly in accordance with traditional rituals, expressing gratitude to the nation’s founders.
People pray for peace, prosperity and favorable conditions. Beyond the main festival, locals continue visiting the temple on full moon and first lunar days, maintaining a warm spiritual space.
A cultural space fostering community cohesion
As living conditions improved, the Hung Kings Commemoration Festival has been organized on a larger scale, attracting widespread participation. Alongside ceremonial rites, festive activities include folk games, cooking contests, floral arrangement contests and traditional offerings.
With hundreds of local agricultural products, 25 teams from communities and schools meticulously create elaborate offerings, showcasing creativity and cultural pride. These activities reinforce unity, national pride and the enduring value of remembering one’s roots.
Tran Thi Hue (Cam Ly - Da Lat Ward) shared that no matter how busy she is, she always visits the temple during the festival. Standing before the altar brings her a sense of peace and connection to her origins.
Preserving and promoting heritage values
In recent years, the temple has continued to receive support for restoration and preservation work. In 2023, funding from a business helped upgrade the courtyard and reinforce surrounding structures, further enhancing its solemn atmosphere and status as a recognized heritage site.
Despite being far from the ancestral land in Phu Tho, the Hung Kings Temple in Cam Ly - Da Lat Ward remains a vital spiritual center. It connects people from different regions under a shared identity, fostering unity and national pride.
In 2017, the temple was officially recognized by Lam Dong Province as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic. The recognition underscores both the pride and responsibility associated with preserving the practice of worshipping the Hung Kings, a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage.