Phu Tho

Area: 3,533.4 sq. km.
Population: 1,335.9 thousand habitants (2012).
Capital: Viet Tri City.
Administrative divisions:
- Town: Phu Tho.
- Districts: Ha Hoa, Thanh Ba, Doan Hung, Lam Thao, Thanh Son, Yen Lap, Tam Nong, Thanh Thuy, Phu Ninh, Cam Khe, Tan Son.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Muong, Dao, San Chay...

Hung Kings Temple (Phu Tho Province)

Geography

Located in the Plains and Midland in the North of Viet Nam, Phu Tho shares border with Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai provinces on the north, Vinh Phuc, Ha Tay provinces on the east, Son La Province on the west and Hoa BinhProvince on the south.

The terrain is mainly made up by hills. There are also three big rivers namely Red, Da and Lo rivers running through Phu Tho.

Phu Tho has a monsoon tropical climate with a cold winter and hot summer, annual average temperature of 23^oC, annual average rainfall of 1600-1800mm and annual average humidity of 85-87%.

Tourism

Phu Tho is consider as ancestral land of Vietnam. Den Hung (Hung Temple)Remains is tied to the legend about 18 Kings Hung who built Van Lang State, the first one of Vietnam, with Phong Chau as the capital.

Phu Tho has bright culture. Archaeological sites like Son Vi, Dong Dau, Lang Ca and many pagodas, temples, tombs around Nghia Linh Mountainprove that Phong Chau used to be cultural center of ancient Vietnamese.

Xuan Son National Park and Ao Chau Pond are famous beauty spots of Phu Tho. Every year, Xuan Son attracts many tourists to come for recreation and discovery diversified flora and fauna. Heading for Ao Chau, tourists can enjoy the fresh air and taste local specialties like fruits, carps, turtles, crabs, snails and so on.

Phu Tho is home of many festivals including Bach Hac, Chu Hoa, and most honourable one is Den Hung Festival. This festival is on 10^th day of the 3^rdlunar month annually corresponding to the anniversary of the Kings Hung. Now, it becomes a great ceremonial festival of the Vietnamese nation.

Beside of these, the people here preserve some traditional songs: xec bua, vi, dum, xoan, gheo songs.

Transportation

Viet Tri City is 80km from Hanoi. It is on National Highway No.2 linkingHanoi with Ha Giang Province and China Border. The train from Hanoi to Lao Cai stops in Viet Tri.