Under the gentle weather of early summer days, crowds from all over the country quietly flock to the Hung Temple historical relic site.
Without noise or haste, each step seems to slow down, giving way to thoughts and sacred emotions when returning to the origin of the nation.
Recorded on April 25 (ie, March 9th of the lunar calendar), favorable weather made the pilgrimage journey even more complete. From early morning, the roads were bustling with people passing by, but the atmosphere was not bustling at all.
Amidst the crowded flow of people, it is easy to recognize a resonance: Everyone maintains a certain calmness for themselves, as if entering a space not only of festivals but also of memories and spirituality.
Many people share that they are not simply going to temples, but going to "return".
Ms. Le Hong Thu (from Tuyen Quang) said that the cycling trip from early morning was not only a sports activity but also an emotional journey: "Walking the whole way, in my head I kept thinking of the two words'roots'. When I arrived, looking at the crowd, everyone was respectful, naturally feeling smaller, feeling proud because I am a descendant of Lac Hong. Tired, yes, but the emotions are very difficult to describe.
That emotion is not only present in young people, but even more lingering in those who have spent almost a lifetime.
Ms. Le Thi Huong (95 years old, Hien Quan commune, Phu Tho province) slowly took each step, but her eyes still shone with emotion: "I am old, I don't know how many more times I can go. But as long as I can go, I will come up. Coming here, burning incense for the Hung Kings, my heart feels very light. As if I still maintained my roots".
For many people, the feeling when standing in front of Ha Temple, Trung Temple, Thuong Temple... is not overwhelming, but a very deep silence - where they remember their ancestors, their families, and the values that have been attached to them since childhood.
Participating in the festival for the first time, Ms. Tran Uyen Nhi (27 years old, from Lao Cai) shared that what impressed her the most was not the scale, but the common feelings of everyone: "I see everyone is lighter, talking softer, walking more leisurely. There is a feeling that is very difficult to describe, as if I am standing in a very sacred space. At that time, I naturally feel more in love with my country.
The flow of people continues to extend, each step towards Thuong Temple like a constant flow of history. In that space, strangers suddenly become closer, because they share the same destination, share the same belief and the same longing - longing for their roots.
The Hung Temple Festival is therefore not only a cultural event, but also a place to connect the emotions of millions of Vietnamese people. There, each person finds their own part in the national flow - quiet, profound but persistent, like the love for their roots that has been preserved through generations.
