Activities held to commemorate legendary ancestors of Vietnam
The administration of northern Phu Tho province held ceremonies on April 17 to commemorate the legendary ancestors of Vietnam, Father Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co.
Officials of Phu Tho province offer incense at the temple dedicated to Mother Au Co on April 17 (Photo: VNA)
Phu Tho (VNA) – The administration of northern PhuTho province held ceremonies on April 17 to commemorate the legendary ancestorsof Vietnam, Father Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co.
Traditional rituals wereconducted at the temples dedicated to Lac Long Quan and Au Co in the Hung KingsTemple relic site to express gratitude to the ones who laid the foundations ofthe country.
Every year, activities worshippingLac Long Quan and Au Co take place ahead of the death anniversary of theHung Kings, believed to be the very first founders of Vietnam, on the 10th day of the third lunar month (which falls on April 21 this year).
Legend has it that Lac LongQuan (real name Sung Lam, son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married AuCo (the fairy daughter of De Lai). Au Co then went on to give birth to a pouchfilled with one hundred eggs, which soon hatched into a hundred sons. However,soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. Lac Long Quan went to thecoast with 50 of the children, while Au Co went to the highlands with the rest.
Their eldest son was made king, who named thecountry Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (modern-day Viet Tri cityin Phu Tho province), beginning the 18 generations of the Hung Kings.
The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highestin the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray forhealthy crops.
To honour their great contributions, a complex oftemples dedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the 10th day ofthe third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for thekings.
The worship of the HungKings, closely related to the ancestral worshiptraditions of most Vietnamese families, was recognised as part of the IntangibleCultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012./.
A virtual ceremony to honour winners of the Vietnam Ancestral Global Day Contest 2020 was held on July 7 night connecting Hanoi with 10 locations around the world, including Hung Kings' Temple in Phu Tho province and those in Malaysia, Taiwan, the UAE, Germany, Slovakia, the US, Canada, Australia, and Nigeria.
Politburo member and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested that the northern midland province of Phu Tho turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector by enhancing the added value and quality of services and diversifying tourism products.
Only ritual ceremonies will be held at the Hung Kings Temple Festival in the northern province of Phu Tho this year due to COVID-19, heard a meeting of local authorities on February 23.
For the Hung Kings Temple Festival to take place safely and efficiently this year, authorities of the northern province of Phu Tho has directed relevant units to build detailed plans ensuring conditions to thoroughly implement COVID-19 prevention and control measures.
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Officials of Phu Tho province offer incense at the temple dedicated to Mother Au Co on April 17 (Photo: VNA) 
