A delegation of nearly 70 overseas Vietnamese paid tribute to heroic martyrs and people who died in northern battlefields during the struggle for national independence at a grand requiem held in northern mountainous Cao Bang province on April 11.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said this was the first time such a large-scale requiem held in the province.

The delegation, which represents 4.5 million Vietnamese living abroad, is in Vietnam to attend the death anniversary of the Hung Kings and the Hung Kings Temple Festival 2013, he added.

On this occasion, the overseas Vietnamese presented 30 gifts to families that renders service during wars in the province.-VNA