Vietnamese people are the only ones in the world who have a national death anniversary - Hung Kings' Death Anniversary, which is observed on the 10th of March every year. In addition to its spiritual significance, this holiday also reflects the cultural identity and long-standing historical traditions of the Vietnamese people. "Wherever you go, remember the death anniversary on March 10." This familiar folk song has been deeply imprinted in the minds of every citizen. So, each time the death anniversary approaches, Vietnamese people everywhere, whether at home or abroad, turn to their roots to remember, honor, and express gratitude to their ancestors, grandparents, and those who sacrificed to protect the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, stirring pride and reinforcing the importance of preserving eternal cultural values.

                                                                               Tourists visit Hung King Temple.

In late March, in Sakai City, Osaka (Japan), as part of the “Vietnam Cultural Festival 2025” organized by the Vietnam-Japan Economic Cooperation Promotion Association, among the many cultural activities, the highlight of the program was the creation of a map of Vietnam and the reenactment of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony. This is not the first year the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony has been held in Japan, but this program has been maintained for many years on the occasion of the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month. The ceremony was performed solemnly and with dignity, including all the traditional rituals such as reading the funeral oration, offering gifts, and incense, reflecting Vietnamese traditional identity. The festival took place in a lively atmosphere, with singing and dancing performances, Ao Dai displays, folk games, and more.

As a son of the Hung Kings' Land currently living and working in Japan, Mr. Pham Thanh Hoang, Chairman of the Vietnam Trade and Investment Promotion Association in Kyushu, shared, “The Phu Tho Association in Japan currently has about 10,000 members. Being able to participate in this program, I feel very happy and proud to stand in a foreign country, sing the national anthem, and see images of Chung cakes and Day cakes. This is truly an opportunity for Vietnamese people to come together, a bond that connects our compatriots living far from home. Through the National Ancestor’s Death Anniversary, Vietnamese people in Osaka, in particular, and Japan in general, will be more closely connected through community activities. The program is not only a space for exchange but also an opportunity to connect and remind each other to always remember the contributions of the Hung Kings to building and defending the country, ensuring that no matter how far their descendants may go, they will always remember their homeland and roots.”

  The Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony is part of the “Vietnam Cultural Festival 2025” program in Sakai City, Osaka (Japan).

This year, together with delegates from the Vietnamese Association in Kansai, Japan, Mr. Pham Thanh Hoang will participate in the Incense Offering Ceremony to commemorate the Hung Kings, held on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month at the Hung King Temple Historical Site. Hoang’s return journey this time is filled with emotions—the emotions of a child far from home returning to his roots.

These days, the community of Phu Tho people in Dak Buk So Commune, Tuy Duc District, Dak Nong Province, is rushing to complete the guest house and pave over 400 m2 of the yard at the Hung King Temple. The temple was completed in 2017, on the occasion of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony, and serves as a common home, a meeting place for the children of the Ancestral Land who come here to make a living. The temple was built with the consensus and solidarity of the children far from home. For them, the image of their homeland is always present; the Ancestral Land is a source of nourishment for the soul, emotions, and the tradition of love, care, and sharing. The next generation, though born in the Central Highlands, is always taught and reminded of their roots and ancestors during gatherings at the Hung King Temple. Every year, during holidays and Tet, especially on the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary, it has become a time for people to gather, not only within the Phu Tho Association but also for all people living in and outside the region. The government and people of Tuy Duc District and Dak Buk So Commune have maintained the tradition of incense offerings to commemorate the contributions of the Hung Kings and ancestors who built and defended the country on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month every year.

Completing the items at the Hung King Temple campus in Dak Buk So Commune, Tuy Duc District, Dak Nong Province.

Mr. Chu Anh Chuong shared, “Every year, on the occasion of the Ancestor’s Death Anniversary, no matter how busy we are, everyone tries to arrange their work to prepare for the activities held on this occasion. The ceremony is held solemnly and respectfully; people prepare offerings to pay respect to their ancestors. In addition to Chung cakes, Day cakes, and Tet cakes, there are also specialties of Tuy Duc hometown. Along with the ceremony, a festival is held with many cultural, artistic, and sports activities, creating a joyful, exciting, and cohesive atmosphere in the community. In previous years, due to economic conditions, we could not, but this year, we have just completed the guest house area as a meeting place for the people, and the yard has been paved with bricks to organize cultural and sports activities.”

In March, among the crowd of people going to Hung Temple, Mrs. Ngo Thi Huu caught my attention. Every year, on the occasion of the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary, Mrs. Huu, 80 years old, from Dong Thinh Commune, Song Lo District, Vinh Phuc Province, along with other women and elders in the commune, makes a pilgrimage to burn incense to commemorate the ancestors who built the country. "This year, my health is not as good as in previous years; I have to rest while walking, but I feel stronger with each step, so everyone in the group is excited. Leaving home at 7 am, the women finish the ceremony and prepare to go to Gieng Temple. This year, it is only the first days of March, but the festival is already bustling; everyone wants to burn incense to commemorate the Hung Kings and to remind themselves of their ancestors and roots," Mrs. Huu shared. Throughout thousands of years of history, spreading strongly across national borders, the worship of the Hung Kings has become a spiritual anchor, a traditional cultural value, and a strong bond between the descendants of Lac Hong, ushering in a prosperous and beautiful homeland and nation.

(Source: en.baophutho.vn)