A procession at the commemoration of Hung Kings in HCM City on April 25 (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Vietnamese people nationwide held activitiesin commemoration of the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the country, onApril 25 or the 10th of the third lunar month.
A commemoration took place at the Hung Kingsmemorial site in the ethnic history and culture park in District 9, Ho Chi MinhCity. It was attended by former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, formerPresident of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Huynh Dam,Politburo member and Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Nguyen ThienNhan, and a crowd of local people.
In her speech, Chairwoman of the municipalVietnam Fatherland Front Committee To Thi Bich Chau said people of HCM Citycommit themselves to striving to match the nation building efforts by the HungKings and ancestors. They will continue nurturing patriotism, upholding thebeautiful cultural values of the country, promoting self-reliance and reforms,staying steadfast in the targets of national independence and socialism, andcompleting industrialisation and modernisation.
At the ceremony, processions and incense andflower offering rituals were organised according to traditional customs.
On this occasion, various activities took placeat the park in HCM City, including a chung cake cooking contest, a bookfestival, a photo exhibition, and performances of martial arts.
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Also on April 25, the People’s Committee of theCentral Highlands province of Lam Dong held a ceremony at Au Co Temple on MountPhuong Hoang in Da Lat city to mark the Hung Kings death anniversary.
Chairman of the provincial People’s CommitteeDoan Van Viet delivered a speech to pay homage to the Hung Kings and ancestorswho founded the country and protect national independence.
Similar commemorations were also held by theadministrations of the central province of Nghe An and the southern provincesof Kien Giang and Vinh Long the same day.
Multiple cultural and sports activities alsotook place in the localities on this occasion.
Legend has it that Lac Long Quan, whose realname was Sung Lam, the son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu, married thedaughter of Heaven’s God De Lai, fairy Au Co.
Au Co then gave birth to a pouch filled with 100eggs, which soon hatched into 100 sons, believed to be Vietnam’s ancestors.
The couple decided to separate in order topopulate the land. Half of the children followed their mother to the highlands,while the rest went with their father to the sea.
Their eldest son was made the king, who namedthe country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (nowadays Viet Tricity in Phu Tho province), starting the 18 reigns of Hung Kings.
The worship of Hung Kings are related toancestral worshipping traditions of most Vietnamese families, which forms animportant part of local people’s spiritual life. It was recognised as UNESCOIntangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012.
The main commemoration of Lac Long Quan, Au Coand the Hung Kings is held annually at the Hung Kings Temple Complex in Phu Thoprovince.-VNA
VNA
