At 7 am this morning, on the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month, General Secretary and President To Lam led a delegation of Party and State leaders to Nghia Linh Mountain to offer incense in commemoration of the Hung Kings.

Addressing the people at Hung Temple, the General Secretary and President expressed his emotion at joining the people in turning towards their roots. He affirmed that "whether in the lowlands or highlands, whether living within the country or far from the homeland, we are all descendants of Lac Hong, 'children of the Dragon and grandchildren of the Immortal', sharing a common origin and a common Vietnamese home."

Each person arrives at Hung Temple from different homelands, with various jobs and circumstances, "but upon setting foot on this sacred land, we all share a common sentiment: returning to our roots, to our ancestors, to the origin of our fraternal affection."

The General Secretary and President emphasized that the Vietnamese nation has many great holidays and memorable milestones, but Hung Kings' Commemoration Day is very special. "This is a moment for every Vietnamese person to remember the Hung Kings who founded the nation, to remember Ancestress Au Co, National Ancestor Lac Long Quan, and to remember generations of ancestors who shed sweat, blood, and wisdom to cultivate the land, establish villages, found the nation, preserve and expand its territory, and foster its cultural heritage," he said. He stressed that Vietnamese history is always linked to the simple moral principle of remembering the source when drinking water, remembering the planter when eating fruit, and acknowledging one's origins. With this principle, Hung Kings' Commemoration Day has become a festival of gratitude, a festival of fraternal affection.

The head of the Party and State shared that the two words "dong bao" (compatriots) are very meaningful. Standing at Hung Temple, those two words become even more sacred. "Compatriots means being from the same 'hundred-egg sac', born from a sacred legend, sharing joys and sorrows throughout history, relying on each other through difficulties, and sharing a common responsibility for the nation's destiny," the General Secretary and President stated. He affirmed that from the Hung Kings' era to the Ho Chi Minh era, the consistent theme throughout national history is patriotism and the spirit of solidarity.

General Secretary and President To Lam, along with Party and State leaders, ascended Nghia Linh Mountain to offer incense in commemoration of the Hung Kings, morning of 26/4. *Photo: Giang Huy*

The General Secretary and President emphasized that founding the nation was the merit of our ancestors. Defending and developing the nation is the responsibility of present and future generations. Defending the nation means protecting independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity; safeguarding peace and the peaceful lives of the people; preserving culture, ethics, faith, and national self-respect. Defending the nation also means making the country increasingly prosperous and the people increasingly well-off and happy. Developing the nation is for us to stand alongside global powers.

"Today, defending the nation is not limited to battles and bullets on the battlefield as previous generations experienced. Defending the nation also means preserving forests, protecting water sources, maintaining social peace, upholding family traditions, preserving the good voices and customs of each ethnic group, ensuring the integrity of officials, and maintaining the people's trust in the Party, the State, and the nation's future," he said.

Recalling President Ho Chi Minh's words when he returned to Hung Temple in 1962, "if you set out, you must reach your destination," the General Secretary and President stressed that if a goal is set, one must persevere; if a promise is made to the people, it must be fulfilled; if responsibility is accepted, it must be seen through; if the path of building a prosperous nation is chosen, one must not be discouraged by difficulties.

"Today, standing at Hung Temple, I want to reiterate President Ho's words with my fellow leaders and compatriots to remind ourselves. The path of development for our homeland and nation still faces many difficulties, challenges, and unfulfilled aspirations. But if we are united, if each person performs their part well, if officials are dedicated to the people, and if the people trust and join forces, we will surely reach our destination," General Secretary and President To Lam shared with the people at Hung Temple.

The ceremonial procession at the Hung Temple festival 2026. *Photo: Giang Huy*

According to him, Vietnam today is more dignified and grander, but still faces many difficulties and challenges. Compatriots still encounter many hardships, especially in mountainous, remote, and ethnic minority regions. "At this time, we increasingly need the spirit of the Hung Kings: the spirit of mutual reliance, overcoming difficulties together, using solidarity as the foundation, the people as the base, culture as strength, and the will for self-reliance as motivation," he said.

The head of the Party and State expressed that all policies and guidelines must aim for a better life for the people. "Speaking to compatriots today at Hung Temple, I see that responsibility even more clearly. National development must begin with very specific questions: Are children's paths to school more convenient; do health stations serve the people better; do workers have more stable jobs; are villages and neighborhoods cleaner; are the poor and vulnerable more cared for; are officials closer to the people, respecting them, understanding them, and serving them more?" the General Secretary and President concluded.