Vietnamese president offers incense to Hung Kings on commemoration day

The memorial day is observed annually on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which falls on April 7 this year.

The Hung Kings is the title given to the ancient Vietnamese rulers of the Hong Bang period (2879-258 BC).

From early morning, delegates gathered in the ceremonial courtyard at the Hung Kings Temple relic site.

At around 6:20 am, an incense-offering procession departed from the courtyard and moved to the Thuong (Upper) Temple, where the rituals took place.

Leading the procession were soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army carrying the national flag, festival flags, and wreaths.

Following them was a group of 18 young women in red ao dai (Vietnam's traditional long gowns) carrying incense, flowers, and offerings, and 100 young men symbolizing the descendants of Lac Hong (legendary ancestors of the Vietnamese people) holding festival flags.

The procession was followed by a delegation of leaders from the Party, state, central and provincial agencies, and representatives of other localities, organizations, and the public.

At the Thuong Temple, atop Nghia Linh Mountain, President Luong Cuong and the delegates offered incense, flowers, and offerings in memory and gratitude to the Hung Kings. They also presented incense and floral offerings at the Hung Kings' mausoleum.

President Cuong and other leaders later offered flowers at the relief depicting President Ho Chi Minh.

Despite the rain, thousands of people, both at home and abroad, flocked to the Hung Kings Temple relic site to offer incense in memory of the Hung Kings, according to the organizing board.