At the incense-offering ceremony at Khanh An pagoda in Udon Thani, Thailand. Photo: VNA

A ceremony has been held by the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani (Thailand) to pay homage to Hung Kings – legendary founders of the nation.

In the context of the complicated development of the Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand, this year's Hung Kings commemoration ceremony has been held in small scale, with the participation of members of the executive committee of the Vietnamese Association.

The delegates attending the ceremony offered incense to commemorate the merits of the Hung Kings.

Luong Xuan Hoa, president of the Vietnamese Association of Udon Thani, said that this year is the 4th year in a row, the Vietnamese community of Udon Thani province held an event at Khanh An Pagoda - where the statue of Hung Kings was placed.

The annual Hung Kings commemoration ceremony is an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to be reminded of the tradition “When you drink water, remember the source,” as well as the patriotism and solidarity of Vietnamese people.

The Hung Kings' death anniversary reminds Vietnamese people, wherever they are, that they are children of their ancestral father Lac Long Quan and their ancestral mother Au Co.

Hoa called on the community, especially the younger generation of overseas Vietnamese, to not forget their root, and join hands in preserving the nation's traditional culture, towards the homeland.

The delegation of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen pays homage to Hung Kings – legendary founders of the nation. Photo: VNA

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (real name Sung Lam, son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of De Lai). Au Co then gave birth to a pouch filled with 100 eggs, which soon hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. Lac Long Quan went to the coast with 50 of the children, while Au Co went to the highlands with the rest.

Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (modern-day Viet Tri city in Phu Tho province), beginning the 18 generations of the Hung Kings.

The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities so they could pray for a successful harvest.

To honor their great contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the 10th day of the third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings.

The worship of the Hung Kings, closely related to the ancestral worship tradition of most Vietnamese families, was recognized as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012.

Previously, on March 27, on the occasion of a working visit to Udon Thani, the delegation of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen led by Consul General Chu Duc Dung joined the overseas community to offer incense to commemorate Hung Kings at Khanh An Pagoda.

Consul General Chu Duc Dung stressed that the worship of the Hung Kings is the cultural identity and traditional morality of the Vietnamese people, expressing the gratitude of generations of descendants for the merits of their ancestors in the cause of building and defending the country.

On the occasion of Hung King's death anniversary, the Consul General called on overseas Vietnamese to try to follow Uncle Ho's teachings 'The Hung Kings have the merit of founding the nation; you and I have to defend it together.

These words remind people of the sacred responsibility each generation of Vietnamese, today and tomorrow, has to defend and develop Vietnam.

On the day of their ancestors’ death anniversary on the 10th day of the third lunar month, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people gather at the Hung Kings Temple in Phu Tho province for ceremonies that pay gratitude to the Hung Kings.

The anniversary is also observed elsewhere in Vietnam and overseas by Vietnamese who cannot travel to Phu Tho.

A similar ceremony was held in Hungary and Malaysia by the Vietnamese Embassy and community on April 9.

The Vietnamese embassy in Malaysia also launched a campaign to raise funds for officers and soldiers in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago and DK1 Platform. The fund-raising campaign is scheduled to last until May 15.

Must-Visit Holiday Destination: Hung King Temple in Can Tho City Tourists can now come to a special place in Can Tho city to pay respects to the Hung Kings.

Hung Kings Festival Explained Coinciding with a fresh, spring season, the Hung Kings Festival is a beloved and ancient holiday, celebrating the nation's ancient royalty.

Strolling on Phu Tho's Crimson Forest Floor Phu Tho, the ancestral land of Vietnam has plenty of enchanting sights to be enjoyed with friends or family.