Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and numerous Party and State leaders offered incense to commemorate the Hung Kings at Kinh Thien palace of the Hung Temple historical relic site in northern Phu Tho province on April 16, or the tenth day of the third lunar month.

They prayed for peace and prosperity for the homeland while pledging to work together to protect the country and build a thriving nation.

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

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Party and State learders offering incense to the Hung Kings

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.

To honour their history, a complex of temples was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the tenth day of the third lunar month serves as the national anniversary for the kings.

Rituals worshipping the Hung Kings were recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity in 2012.

Later, the leaders offered incense at Gieng Temple where the nation’s legendary founder Lac Long Quan is worshipped.

On the same day, leaders and former leaders of Ho Chi Minh City participated in a ceremony in commemoration of the Hung Kings at a memorial to them at the Ethnic Cultural and Historical Park in District 9.

On this occasion, many tourism sites, Hung Kings temples and schools named after the Hung Kings in the locality, also organised cultural activities and art performances to commemorate the contributions of the kings to the nation.

Source: VNA