On the morning of April 21 (the 10th day of the third lunar month), the Standing Committee of the Can Tho City Party Committee, the People’s Council, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho City solemnly held the Hung Kings Commemoration Ceremony at the Hung Kings Temple (located in Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City).
Offering incense in remembrance of the Hung Kings at the temple
The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Tran Viet Truong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho City. This marked the first time the Hung Kings death anniversary ritual was held at the Hung Kings Temple in Can Tho. The ceremony was conducted in a solemn and respectful manner, including offerings of flowers and incense to commemorate the merits of the Hung Kings and the forebears who contributed to the founding of the nation.
Flower-offering ritual at the Hung Kings Temple
Construction of the Hung Kings Temple in Can Tho began in June 2019. To date, the project has reached approximately 90% completion and has entered its final stage, with inauguration expected on the upcoming National Day, September 2. The main temple area has largely been completed to allow the Hung Kings Commemoration rituals to take place.
Immediately after the ceremony, the Hung Kings Temple area was opened to the public for incense offering and visits. According to the organizing committee, as the construction has not yet been fully completed, public access for worship and visits was only allowed for three hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on the 10th day of the third lunar month.
Leaders of Can Tho City expressed their hope that holding the Hung Kings Commemoration Ceremony for the first time at the Hung Kings Temple would help people turn their hearts toward the National Ancestors. They also wished for this site to become a cultural and spiritual landmark for residents of the Mekong Delta region to remember and return to their roots.
Visitors paying respects at the main temple area
Attending the incense-offering ceremony for the first time at the Hung Kings Temple in Can Tho, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Thu (from Co Do District, Can Tho City) shared that her entire family felt very joyful to visit and pay respects here for the first time.
“I hope to bring my children and grandchildren here to learn about the tradition of nation-building and nation-protection of our ancestors. From there, we can educate the younger generation about these traditions, helping them develop greater national pride and continue the legacy of building the country,” Ms. Thu said.
The Hung Kings Temple complex in Can Tho consists of a main temple designed as a circular structure placed on a square base, all set within a circular landscape water feature that reflects the characteristics of the Mekong Delta region. The main temple complex symbolizes the concept of “round heaven, square earth.”
The main temple block is surrounded by 18 curved sections carved with decorative patterns, symbolizing the 18 generations of Hung Kings. These sections are built on 54 equal segments of the circle, representing the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. The main worship hall, with its majestic and solemn architectural design, is dedicated to the worship of the National Ancestor Hung King, Father Lạc Long Quân, Mother Âu Cơ, as well as Lạc Lords and Lạc Generals.
The complex also includes a central plaza featuring a stele pavilion designed in wooden architectural style, along with a surrounding water area encircling the main temple complex, where 54 pillars symbolize the 54 ethnic groups united in protecting the Vietnamese Fatherland.
