Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense to the Hung Kings, the nation’s legendary founders, at the Kinh Thien Palace in the Hung Kings Temple relic complex in the northern province of Phu Tho on Apr. 12.

The incense offering ceremony, the major activity of the Hung Kings Temple festival, was aimed at expressing gratitude to the predecessors and praying for peace for the people and prosperity for the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Phu Tho People’s Committee affirmed that young generations would give themselves to the way the Party and Uncle Ho had chosen to build a strong country and contribute to peace and friendship in the world.

After the ceremony, Party leader Trong laid a floral tribute at the relief wall of President Ho Chi Minh and soldiers of the Tien Phong (Vanguard) Brigade in the relic complex.

Vietnam has submitted documents on the worship rituals dedicated to Hung Kings to the UNESCO to seek recognition of their status as Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity.

The annual festival to commemorate the Hung Kings, which falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month, was first recognised as a national event in 2007.

There are over 1,400 places of worship dedicated to the Hung Kings across the country and numerous festivals are held every year to commemorate the nation’s founders. The festival at the Hung Kings’ Temple in Phu Tho province is the major official event dedicated to the Kings.

This year’s festival was held from April 7-12, with a wide range of cultural activities taking place in Viet Tri city, at the Hung Kings’ Temple and surrounding areas.
The Hung Kings Temple is located on Nghia Linh Mountain , Phong Chau district, in Phu Tho province, about 100km northwest of Hanoi . It is a complex of ancient tombs, monuments and temples./.