At Kinh Thien Palace on the summit of Nghia Linh Mountain, To Lam and Party, State and local leaders offered incense, flowers and offerings in tribute to the Hung Kings and generations of predecessors who founded and defended the nation.

Speaking with residents after the ceremony at Thuong Temple, To Lam said the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day is a special occasion for Vietnamese people to remember the nation’s founders, including Mother Au Co and Father Lac Long Quan, as well as generations who contributed their efforts and sacrifice to building and protecting the country.

From the era of the Hung Kings to that of Ho Chi Minh, he said, patriotism and national unity have been a continuous thread. He recalled President Ho Chi Minh’s instruction at Gieng Temple: “The Hung Kings founded the country, we must together protect it,” noting that the message remains relevant today.

He also cited Ho Chi Minh’s words during a visit to Hung Temple in 1962: “Once you set out, you must reach the destination.” The remark, he said, remains applicable today.

“Standing here today at Hung Temple, I want to recall Uncle Ho’s words as a reminder to ourselves. The path of development still faces difficulties and challenges, and some tasks have yet to meet expectations. But if we stand united, if each person fulfils their role, if officials are dedicated to the people and if the people maintain trust and work together, we will reach our goal,” he said.

Noting that many people, especially in mountainous, remote and ethnic minority areas, still face difficulties, he laid stress on the need to uphold the Hung Kings’ spirit of solidarity, mutual support, unity and self-reliance.

He reaffirmed that the Party and State place the people at the centre of development, and called on Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and mass organisations to continue listening to the people, holding dialogue with them and resolving their concerns.

“Officials at the grassroots level must explain policies clearly so people understand, build trust with them and work alongside them to solve problems. In ethnic minority and disadvantaged areas, policies must reach every village, household and individual; resources must be used where they are needed; and outcomes must be seen in real improvements in people’s lives,” he said.

He said he was moved to see festival-goers of all ages, including elderly people, children, families across generations, youth volunteers, officers on duty and those serving visitors, adding that these images contribute to the atmosphere of the festival. He said people should carry with them a sense of joy when leaving Hung Temple.

That sense of joy, he said, comes from living in a country with a shared origin, peace and a sense of community, along with the responsibility to live up to the legacy of the ancestors, perform one’s duties well, care for families and contribute to the country.

He also called on media agencies to continue sharing positive images of the festival, including acts of civility and the cultural and historical values of Hung Temple and the ancestral land, helping the public understand, act and take pride appropriately.

Earlier the same day, To Lam and other leaders laid wreaths and offered incense at the Hung Kings’ Tomb, presented flowers at the relief depicting Ho Chi Minh speaking to soldiers of the Pioneer Corps at the Gieng Temple crossroads, and offered incense at the temple dedicated to Lac Long Quan.

Ho Chi Minh City holds Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day ceremony

VOV.VN - The Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, together with a large number of local residents, held the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day ceremony at the Hung Kings Memorial Temple in the Ethnic Culture and History Park in Long Binh Ward on April 26, 2026, the 10th day of the third lunar month.