Overseas Vietnamese Return to Ancestral Land for Hung King Commemoration Ceremony

Every year, as the 10th day of the third lunar month approaches, the hearts of Vietnamese people, both at home and abroad, turn towards the ancestral land. This year, Tuổi Trẻ Online was honored to accompany a delegation of 60 overseas Vietnamese from across the globe as they made the pilgrimage to the Hung Temple in Phu Tho province to participate in the Hung King Commemoration Ceremony.

These journeys, spanning oceans and continents, are undertaken with a singular purpose: to reconnect with their heritage. For many, it's a return to the sacred grounds where the nation's founders are believed to have originated. The article highlights the deep emotional resonance of this event, emphasizing the shared identity and pride that bind the Vietnamese diaspora together, regardless of where they reside.

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This year, for the first time, a delegation of overseas Vietnamese from Poland is participating in the Hung King Commemoration Ceremony organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Far from home, whether we can return to Vietnam or not, we always regularly organize the Hung King commemoration.

It's a testament to the enduring spirit of "đồng bào" – compatriots – a concept deeply ingrained in the Vietnamese consciousness. The article underscores that even those living far from Vietnam, like the Vietnamese community in Poland, meticulously organize their own ancestral worship ceremonies. This demonstrates a profound commitment to preserving cultural traditions and national identity across generations and borders.

The narrative also touches upon the significant contributions of the overseas Vietnamese community to Vietnam's progress. With approximately 6.5 million people spread across 130 countries, they are not only a growing economic force, contributing significantly through remittances, but also active participants in the nation's development discourse, offering valuable insights for the country's future.

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The nation's rivers and mountains, the land of the Dragon and Fairy, over 4,000 years of history, all people are brothers and sisters, children of one father, living under one roof. Since ancient times, Mother Âu Cơ gave birth to one hundred children, who grew up together in one womb. Therefore, Vietnamese people, whether from the North, Central, or South, or overseas compatriots, still share the sense of 'đồng bào' (compatriots). Wherever we live, our hearts still turn towards the Ancestral Land.