Party and State Leaders Offer Incense for the 2026 Hung Kings' Commemoration

On the morning of April 26 (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, Year of the Horse), at Kinh Thien Palace atop Nghia Linh Mountain within the Hung Temple Historic Site, the 2026 Hung Kings' Commemoration was solemnly held as a National Ceremony to honor and pay tribute to the merits of the Hung Kings and the ancestors who founded the nation.

The ceremonial procession commences from the Festival Center.

The incense-offering ceremony was attended by General Secretary and President To Lam; former General Secretary of the Party Central Committee Nong Duc Manh; former Member of the Politburo and former Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and Member of the Politburo and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai.

Leading the procession is the ceremonial team carrying the National Flag and the Festival Flag.

Following them are young women bearing incense, flowers, and ritual offerings.

And a delegation of 100 “Children of the Dragon and Fairy,” symbolizing the nation’s origins and enduring vitality.

Also in attendance were members of the Politburo: Nguyen Duy Ngoc – Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Central Organization Commission; Tran Sy Thanh – Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Inspection Commission; Le Minh Tri – Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission; Trinh Van Quyet – Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Central Commission for Propaganda and Education & Mass Mobilization; Nguyen Thanh Nghi – Secretary of the Party Committee and Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Commission; General Phan Van Giang – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense; General Luong Tam Quang – Minister of Public Security; Le Hoai Trung – Minister of Foreign Affairs; Pham Thi Thanh Tra – Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister; Nguyen Van Quang – Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court; Nguyen Khac Dinh – Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; and Nguyen Hong Dien – Vice Chairman of the National Assembly.

The delegation of Party and State leaders is led by General Secretary and President To Lam.

The delegation also included members and alternate members of the Party Central Committee; assistants to the General Secretary and President; leaders of central commissions, ministries, and agencies; the Secretaries of the City Party Committees of Hai Phong and Can Tho, the Secretary of the Son La Provincial Party Committee, and representatives of various provinces and centrally-run cities.

Mr. Nguyen Huy Ngoc – Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Festival – conducts the incense-offering ceremony at the Thuong (Upper) Temple.

Representing Phu Tho Province were: Pham Dai Duong – Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Tran Duy Dong – Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee and Master of Ceremonies for the incense offering; Bui Van Quang – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; along with members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, leaders of the People’s Council, People’s Committee, and Fatherland Front. Also attending were representatives of local organizations, individuals, and a large number of compatriots from across the country and overseas.

Subsequently, General Secretary and President To Lam, alongside current and former Party and State leaders and provincial officials, entered the Inner Sanctuary to offer incense, flowers, and ritual gifts, praying for national peace, prosperity, and the eternal well-being of all families.

At 7:00 AM, amidst the solemn echoes of ceremonial music, the procession departed from the Festival Center, passing through the Ceremonial Gate, the Lower and Middle Temples, before reaching the Upper Temple. Leading the way was the honor guard carrying the National and Festival flags, followed by young women bearing incense and offerings, and a group of 100 “Children of the Dragon and Fairy” in traditional attire, symbolizing the nation’s origins and enduring vitality. Following them were the ceremonial orchestra, the palanquin procession, and the delegation of high-ranking delegates.

From the foot of the mountain, the delegation ascended the stone steps to the Lower Temple and Thiên Quang Pagoda, proceeding to the Middle Temple—associated with the legend of the Hung Kings discussing state affairs and the story of Lang Lieu offering Banh Chung and Banh Giay. The journey culminated at the Thượng Temple atop Nghia Linh Mountain, where ancient Kings offered sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, and the deities of Mountain and Rice. This is also where Thuc Phan, after being ceded the throne by the 18th Hung King, erected a stone pillar swearing to protect the Ancestral heritage.

Following the incense-offering ritual, on behalf of compatriots nationwide and overseas Vietnamese, Mr. Tran Duy Dong — Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee and Master of Ceremonies — read the Commemorative Eulogy in honor of the Hung Kings.

The eulogy affirmed the nation-founding merits of the Hung Kings, honored the tradition of great national unity, and highlighted the country’s prominent achievements in recent years.

At 7:30 AM, the official incense-offering ceremony commenced. In a sacred atmosphere of profound gratitude, General Secretary and President To Lam, alongside former Party and State leaders and current high-ranking officials, entered the Inner Sanctuary to offer incense and prayers for national peace, prosperity, and the eternal well-being of the people.

Following the ritual, Mr. Tran Duy Dong — Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee and Master of Ceremonies — read the Commemorative Eulogy. The text affirmed the nation-founding merits of the Hung Kings and highlighted the country’s recent milestones, notably the administrative restructuring into 34 provinces and the operation of two-tier local governance since July 1, 2025. The eulogy defined a vision for Vietnam to enter a “breakthrough, creative, and self-reliant era,” aiming to become a developed, high-income nation by 2045.

Meeting with compatriots at the temple courtyard, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his deep emotion at the people’s devotion. He emphasized: "Whether from the lowlands or highlands, at home or abroad, every Vietnamese is a descendant of the same roots. When we come to the Ancestral Land, we meet with a shared heart of gratitude."

Invoking President Ho Chi Minh’s famous words at the temple, he affirmed: "The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the country, you and I must together defend it—this remains an eternal truth.“He defined”defending the country" today as protecting not only sovereignty but also culture, ethics, the environment, and the people’s trust. He urged the political system to adopt the spirit of “action over words” and to persist until every goal is achieved.

General Secretary and President To Lam and the delegation also offered incense at the Hung King’s Tomb and the Mother Au Co Temple, and laid flowers at the relief “Uncle Ho talking to the Pioneer Army Corps” at the Temple Well intersection.

After meeting and speaking with officers, soldiers, and compatriots, General Secretary and President To Lam, along with the delegation, offered incense and flowers at the Temple of National Ancestor Lac Long Quan.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the General Secretary and President extended his wishes for health, peace, and happiness to all citizens nationwide and overseas Vietnamese. He also expressed his hopes for the Party Committee, authorities, and ethnic groups of Phu Tho Province to continue upholding their traditions and building an increasingly prosperous Ancestral Land.

The leader affirmed that among the nation’s many major holidays, the Hung Kings' Commemoration is a special occasion—a time for every Vietnamese to remember the founding merits of the Hung Kings, express gratitude to Mother Au Co, National Ancestor Lac Long Quan, and generations of predecessors who cultivated and protected the nation. This fosters the enduring moral principles of “When drinking water, remember its source” and “When eating fruit, remember the one who planted the tree”—the sustainable foundation of Vietnamese culture and identity.

Emphasizing the sacred meaning of the word “compatriots”, he noted that it is not just a concept but a blood-bond—stemming from the same “bundle of one hundred eggs”—sharing a history and supporting one another through the country’s challenges. Referring to President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings at the Hung Temple, he reaffirmed that the quote: “The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the country, you and I must together defend it” remains eternally valid. Today, “defending the country” means protecting not only independence and sovereignty but also culture, ethics, the living environment, and the people’s trust.

The General Secretary and President stressed the need for responsibility in every sector: "To say is to do, and once started, it must be seen through to the end." He urged the younger generation to study and gain a deep understanding of national history to carry on the tradition and elevate Vietnam’s international standing.

He reaffirmed: "The people are the center, the subjects, and the source of strength for the cause of national construction and protection." Every policy must aim to improve the people’s lives, measured by practical daily changes. He requested all levels of government to continue listening to and resolving the people’s concerns, especially those in ethnic minority and disadvantaged areas.

Before the spirits of the Hung Kings, the General Secretary and President, along with the people, vowed to continue the tradition of national construction and defense, consolidating the great national unity block to build a powerful, prosperous, civilized, and happy Vietnam.

General Secretary and President To Lam, along with the delegation of Party and State officials, laid flowers at the relief 'Uncle Ho talking to officers and soldiers of the Pioneer Army Corps.

Following the meeting with the public, General Secretary and President To Lam and the delegation laid flowers at the Hung King’s Tomb and the relief “Uncle Ho talking to officers and soldiers of the Pioneer Army Corps” at the Temple Well intersection.

Simultaneously, across the country, localities with Hung King shrines held solemn incense-offering ceremonies in accordance with traditional rituals. By 9:00 AM, the official ceremony concluded, yet streams of people from all regions continued to pour into the Hung Temple. Despite the surge in visitors, security, traffic safety, and environmental hygiene were effectively maintained.

The Hung Kings' Commemoration is not just a major national holiday but a lasting symbol of the spirit of solidarity. At this sacred moment on Nghia Linh peak, millions of Vietnamese hearts unite toward their roots, honoring the Kings who opened the nation’s borders and forged the patriotic tradition and self-reliant will of the Vietnamese people through thousands of years of history.

News Team