Over 1,000 Vietnamese expatriates attended a ceremony at Sapa Shopping Mall in Prague, the Czech Republic, on April 17 to commemorate the death anniversary of Hung Kings and learn about their roots.

This is the sixth time the commemoration of Hung Kings, the nation’s legendary founders, has been held in Czech.

Incense offering ritual is performed at the memorial ceremony in the Czech Republic. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Participants representing the 65,000-strong Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic offered incense, flowers and Vietnam’s specialties to the Hung Kings.

Various foods from localities across Vietnam were also on display at an exhibition on the sidelines of the ceremony, such as Phu Tho’s “banh day” (round glutinous rice cakes), Quang Binh’s “banh bot loc” (steamed clear tapioca cake), Hai Duong’s “banh dau xanh” (Mung bean cake) and Bac Ninh’s “banh phu the” (husband and wife cake).

The Hung Kings founded the first nation in the history of Vietnam, called Van Lang, in Phong Chau, now Phu Tho province.

Ruling the country through 18 generations (2879–258 BC), the Hung Kings taught locals how to grow wet rice. They chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities.

The 10th day of the third month on lunar calendar was earmarked as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.

The worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings are closely related to the ancestral worshipping tradition of most Vietnamese families, which forms an important part of people's spiritual lives. It was recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.

Source: VNA