Phu Tho Travel Guide

Phu Tho Province, about 80 kilometers northwest of Hanoi, has a significance in Vietnamese national identity that exceeds its small visitor numbers. This is where the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the Vietnamese nation, established their capital between 2879 BCE and 258 BCE, according to Vietnamese tradition. The Hung Kings Temple Complex on Nghia Linh Mountain, where the 18 generations of Hung Kings are commemorated, is the most important Vietnamese ancestral pilgrimage site, drawing millions of domestic visitors during the annual Hung Kings Commemoration Day (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, recognized as a national holiday).

Phu Tho is also the home of the UNESCO-listed Xoan Singing tradition, a unique Vietnamese ceremonial song form practiced for over a thousand years, and one of the oldest tea-producing regions in Vietnam. Most international visitors who add Phu Tho to their itinerary do so for cultural reasons rather than for landscape spectacle; the province rewards travelers interested in the foundational layer of Vietnamese national identity.

Where Is Phu Tho Located?

• Location: Northwestern Vietnam, 80 km from Hanoi
• Area: 9361.40 km²
• After 2025 provincial merger: Phu Tho province merged with Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh provinces.
• Population: 4.022.638
• Population density: 342 person/km²
• National significance: Legendary site of the Hung Kings, founders of Vietnam (2879 BCE to 258 BCE)
• UNESCO heritage: Xoan Singing of Phu Tho (Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2017)
• Known for: Hung Kings Temple Complex, Xoan Singing, Tan Da, ancient tea cultivation, Den Hung Festival
• Best for: Vietnamese cultural heritage, ancestral pilgrimage, off-circuit northern Vietnam

Phu Tho is a province located in the North-eastern part of Vietnam, about 80km away from Hanoi. After the 2025 Vietnam provincial merger, the three provinces of Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Hoa Binh merged and took the name Phu Tho.

How to Get to Phu Tho

From Hanoi by car: About 80 km via the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway, 1.5 to 2 hours. The most practical option for organized visits.

From Hanoi by train: Trains on the Hanoi-Lao Cai line stop at Viet Tri station (the provincial capital) and Phu Tho station, taking about 2 hours from Hanoi.

From Yen Bai: About 90 km southeast on Highway 32, 2 hours by car. A practical stop on a northern Vietnam circuit between Hanoi and Mu Cang Chai.

Best Time to Visit Phu Tho

March to April: The most culturally active period. The Hung Kings Commemoration Day on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (typically in April) is Vietnam’s most important ancestral pilgrimage event, drawing millions of visitors over a multi-day period. If your dates align, the experience of the festival is unique in Vietnam. Note: the festival significantly affects accommodation availability and traffic; book in advance.

Year-round: The Hung Kings Temple Complex and the Xoan Singing performances are accessible throughout the year. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer the most comfortable conditions for outdoor visits.

Summer (June to August) is hot and humid; the temple steps in midday heat can be uncomfortable. Early morning visits are advisable.

Top Things to Do in Phu Tho

1. Den Hung (Hung Kings Temple Complex)

Located on Nghia Linh Mountain (Hung Mountain) about 10 km northeast of Viet Tri, the temple complex spreads across three terraces ascending the mountain:

Den Ha (Lower Temple) at the mountain base, where the legendary first Hung King received the magic vessel from heaven.

Den Trung (Middle Temple) halfway up the mountain, the largest building in the complex and the location of the main ceremonial events during the annual festival.

Den Thuong (Upper Temple) at the mountain summit (175 meters), the smallest and most sacred, the location believed to be where the Hung Kings conducted state ceremonies.

The complex is approached by a long staircase of about 540 stone steps from the parking area. Walking the full ascent takes about 1.5 hours including stops at each terrace and the surrounding sites. The summit offers panoramic views over the Red River Delta and the surrounding hills. Entry to the complex is approximately 20,000 VND.

2. Gio To Hung Vuong (Hung Temple Festival / Hung Kings Festival)

Held on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month (typically late March or early April), this is the most important ancestral pilgrimage festival in Vietnam, drawing 5 to 8 million visitors during the multi-day event. The festival includes:

• Procession ceremonies up the mountain steps
• Traditional Xoan Singing performances at the temple courtyards
• Ban chung (square sticky rice cake) and ban giay (round rice cake) competitions, recreating the legendary contest in which Prince Lang Lieu won succession to the throne with his rice creations
• Folk games, traditional martial arts demonstrations, and Vietnamese opera performances

If your dates coincide, the festival is one of the most genuinely affecting cultural experiences available in Vietnam, entirely focused on Vietnamese ancestral identity rather than tourist presentation. The scale is enormous; arrive early and be prepared for significant crowds.

3. Xoan Singing

UNESCO-inscribed in 2017, Xoan Singing is a ceremonial Vietnamese song form that has been practiced in the four guilds (Phu Duc, Kim Doi, Thet, and An Thai) around Phu Tho for over 1,000 years. The performances combine singing, dance, and percussion in a strict ritual structure dating from the Hung Kings period. Eight specific Xoan Singing locations are recognized as the original performance sites; visits and performances can be arranged through the Phu Tho cultural authorities or through tour operators.

4. Ancient Tea Forest of Long Coc

About 70 km from Viet Tri in Tan Son District, Long Coc is one of the more visually striking tea-growing landscapes in northern Vietnam, wave-like rows of tea bushes covering rounded hills in patterns that have made the area popular among Vietnamese landscape photographers. The Long Coc tea is harvested from spring to early autumn; April to May is the prime green tea season. Tea production is done by Mong communities using traditional methods.

5. Viet Tri City

The provincial capital sits at the confluence of three major rivers (Red River, Black River, and Lo River), a strategically important location historically and the reason the Hung Kings established their capital nearby. The city itself is a working industrial center without significant tourist appeal, but its position as a transport hub and base for visiting the Hung Kings Complex makes it a practical overnight stop.

Phu Tho Food

Banh tai (steamed rice cake stuffed with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms, a Phu Tho specialty) is the most distinctively local dish, sold at the morning markets in Viet Tri and the towns around the Hung Kings Complex.

Phu Tho tea: The province produces some of Vietnam’s most respected green tea, particularly the Tan Cuong style. Available at tea shops in Viet Tri and directly from the producing villages around Long Coc.

Buoi Doan Hung (Doan Hung pomelo, a specialty fruit from Doan Hung District) is one of Vietnam’s most prized pomelo varieties, with a particularly sweet, juicy flesh. Available at the markets from autumn through winter.

Estimated Travel Costs in Phu Tho

Phu Tho is among Vietnam’s most affordable provincial destinations for international travelers. Entry to the Hung Kings Temple Complex is nearly free, local food is very cheap, and accommodation in Viet Tri city is functional and inexpensive. The main cost is transport from Hanoi. Festival season (Gio To Hung Vuong) significantly increases accommodation demand.

Prices below are estimates for international travelers and may vary by season and booking time.

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Luxury
Accommodation (per night)	150,000 – 280,000 VND (~$5.91-$11.02)	350,000 – 750,000 VND (~$13.78-$29.53)	900,000 – 2,000,000 VND (~$35.43-$78.74)
Hung Kings Temple Complex entry	20,000 VND (~$0.79)	20,000 VND (~$0.79)	20,000 VND (~$0.79)
Meal per person	25,000 – 55,000 VND (~$0.98-$2.17)	60,000 – 150,000 VND (~$2.36-$5.91)	180,000 – 400,000 VND (~$7.09-$15.75)
Train Hanoi–Viet Tri (one way)	50,000 – 80,000 VND (~$1.97-$3.15)	80,000 – 150,000 VND (~$3.15-$5.91)	–
Private car from Hanoi (return)	–	800,000 – 1,300,000 VND (~$31.50-$51.18)	1,500,000 – 2,800,000 VND (~$59.06-$110.24)
Motorbike rental (per day)	100,000 – 150,000 VND (~$3.94-$5.91)	150,000 – 250,000 VND (~$5.91-$9.84)	–
Long Coc tea forest visit	30,000 – 50,000 VND (~$1.18-$1.97)	50,000 – 100,000 VND (~$1.97-$3.94)	100,000 – 200,000 VND (~$3.94-$7.87)
Total 5-day trip	1,200,000 – 2,500,000 VND (~$47-$98)	4,000,000 – 8,000,000 VND (~$157-$315)	8,500,000 – 19,000,000 VND (~$335-$748)
Total 7-day trip	1,700,000 – 3,500,000 VND (~$67-$138)	5,600,000 – 11,200,000 VND (~$220-$441)	12,000,000 – 27,000,000 VND (~$472-$1,063)
Total 14-day trip	3,400,000 – 7,000,000 VND (~$134-$276)	11,200,000 – 22,400,000 VND (~$441-$882)	24,000,000 – 54,000,000 VND (~$945-$2,126)

Gio To Hung Vuong festival (10th day of 3rd lunar month) fills all accommodation in Viet Tri and surrounding areas. Long Coc tea forest requires private transport. Always recheck costs at time of booking.

Phu Tho Travel Tips

• The Hung Kings Commemoration Day brings massive crowds. Book accommodation in Viet Tri or surrounding areas weeks in advance if visiting during the festival period.
• The Hung Kings Complex requires significant walking on stone steps; comfortable shoes and water are essential.
• Phu Tho’s main appeal is cultural rather than scenic. Travelers focused on landscape may find more rewarding destinations in Sapa, Ha Giang, or Ninh Binh.
• The tea forest at Long Coc requires private transport; it is not on any public bus route.
• Visiting outside the festival season gives a quieter, more contemplative experience of the Hung Kings Complex; visiting during the festival gives a sense of contemporary Vietnamese ancestral practice.

Visit Phu Tho with IDC Travel

We can include Phu Tho as part of northern Vietnam cultural circuits, particularly for travelers interested in Vietnamese national heritage and the Hung Kings tradition. Contact our team for options.