Rice cake cooking contest thrills visitors to Hung Kings Temple Festival
A cooking contest spotlighting Vietnam’s traditional rice cakes has stirred excitement in Phu Tho as part of the northern province’s ongoing signature Hung Kings Temple Festival.
Phu Tho (VNA) – A cooking contest spotlightingVietnam’s traditional rice cakes has stirred excitement in Phu Tho as part ofthe northern province’s ongoing signature Hung Kings Temple Festival.
Taking place on April 16 or the 8th day of thethird lunar month, the competition saw the participation of 13 teamsrepresenting 13 districts and townships in Phu Tho province.
Regarding the category of “banh chung” (squareglutinous rice cake), teams are set to compete in making 10 cakes from 5kg ofglutinous rice, 1kg of green beans, and 1kg of pork within a maximum time of 10minutes, with the boiling process lasting for five hours.
In the category of “banh giay” (round glutinousrice cake), artisans had to cook 5kg of glutinous rice into sticky rice in 30minutes at the maximum, and then pound and shape them into 10 cakes in no morethan 15 minutes.
The contest aimed to reenact the traditionalritual of presenting offerings to ancestors dating back to the time of HungKings. It is an opportunity to honour products made from rice, expressgratitude and respect to the merit of the Hung Kings, and connect people ofvarious ethnic groups in the province.
This year, the festival, one of the country’slargest annual cultural and religious events to commemorate its legendaryfounders, lasts from April 9-18.
The commemoration of the Hung Kings is a nationalholiday that takes place annually on the 10th day of the third lunar month,which falls on April 18 this year. The practice of worshiping them in Phu Thowas recognised by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage in2012./.
In the collective consciousness of the Vietnamese people, the death anniversary of Hung Kings – the legendary founders of the nation, has long been a cultural, spiritual and religious symbol and the convergence of the spirit of great solidarity of ethnic groups in the country.
The Hung Kings Temple Festival, one of the country’s largest annual cultural and religious events to commemorate its legendary founders, opened in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 9.
Every April sees millions of people from all corners of the country and international tourists flocking to the Hung Kings Temple Festival in the northern province of Phu Tho, one of the country’s largest annual cultural and religious events to commemorate its legendary founders.
A palanquin procession to Hung Kings Temple was held in Viet Tri city, the northern province of Phu Tho, on April 15 to pay tribute to the legendary founders of Vietnam.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
At the cooking contest (Photo: VNA) 
