Thousands of people flocked to the Hung Kings Memorial Temple at the National History and Culture Park in Long Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, to attend the Hung Kings Commemoration Day ceremony on the 10th day of the third Lunar month, which fell on April 26.
Held on the 10th day of the third lunar month each year, Hung Kings Commemoration Day is an important occasion for Vietnamese people nationwide to honour their roots and remember the founders' role in building and defending the country. The event helps preserve historical traditions while strengthening national unity.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Phuoc Loc, a member of the Party Central Committee, deputy secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Ho Chi Minh City, said: "In the consciousness of the Vietnamese people, the Hung Kings are revered ancestors who founded Van Lang, the first state, laying the foundations for the formation and development of the nation and becoming the common forebears of the Vietnamese people."
After the opening ceremony, a solemn palanquin procession and incense offering to the Hung Kings were held. The procession, carrying an incense burner and traditional offerings including fruit trays, tea, rice wine, banh chung and banh day cakes, set off early in the morning in line with ancient ritual practice.
Nguyen Van Tinh, 65, who has taken part in the procession for more than a decade, said: "The whole team was there from 5 am to prepare for this sacred ritual. The work is demanding, but everyone tries their best because of its significance. My family has taken part for three generations. We continue the rites handed down by our ancestors to preserve this cultural tradition."
In the solemn atmosphere, large numbers of residents, school pupils and university students respectfully offered incense and flowers to the Hung Kings and to Nguyen Huu Canh, credited with opening up the Sai Gon-Gia Dinh region.
Many people brought traditional offerings such as banh chung, banh day cakes, fruit and southern specialities to present to the Hung Kings.
Dao Thi Thuy, 61, arrived with a group of about 20 people carrying banh chung cakes, dragon fruit and other fruit as offerings. She said: "Our forebears taught that wherever people may go, they should remember the ancestral commemoration on the 10th day of the third lunar month. That is why I have come here to offer incense for more than five years. It is a chance to express gratitude to our ancestors and pray for peace and stability for the country."
By midday, the stream of visitors coming to offer incense at the memorial site was still stretching on, with people crowding in to make offerings in a solemn and reverent atmosphere.
Remembering the Hung Kings is not only a return to the nation's roots but also an affirmation of the sacred value of the tradition of building and defending the country over thousands of years of history.
Within the Hung Kings memorial complex is also an exhibition space featuring models of Vietnam's islands, helping recreate the shape of the country from the mainland to the open sea. The display is not only visually striking but also serves as a reminder of the work of previous generations in founding and defending the nation.
Alongside the ceremonial rites, a range of festival activities was held throughout the commemoration period, including the eighth banh chung wrapping and cooking contest, the 17th traditional camp themed Pride in Dragon and Fairy Descendants, and performances of music, traditional martial arts, dragon dance and festival drumming for residents and visitors. The activities helped instil patriotism and national pride in younger generations while spreading the spirit of remembering the source of what one enjoys.