Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese (ALOV) and overseas Vietnamese who are staying in Vietnam has paid a visit to Hung Kings' temple in Phu Tho province.

Ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh - ALOV president led the delegation.

This meaningful activity is held regularly by the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese (ALOV) for overseas Vietnamese.

In the solemn atmosphere on Nghia Linh Mount, where the souls of Hung Kings rest, overseas Vietnamese respectfully lit up incense, paying tribute to the kings' merits, expressing their "When you drink water, remember the source" spirit. The delegation prayed that the ancestors would protect the Vietnamese community in foreign countries, bless them with health, solidarity, and development. They also asked for the country's prosperity, peace, and position's promotion in the international arena.

Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese (ALOV) and overseas Vietnamese who are staying in Vietnam has paid a visit to Hung Kings' temple in Phu Tho province.

Ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh - ALOV president said that the activity was held to meet the wish of overseas Vietnamese to pay homage and commemorate Hung Kings, who has founded the nation, demonstrating the Vietnamese ethical tradition of "When you drink water, remember the source".

"Every Vietnamese, especially those who live abroad, has a special feeling when coming to Hung Kings' temple. This activity expresses the solidarity of Vietnamese living abroad with their homeland, showing that they always heading towards the nation. In the recent 2 years, due to the complicated COVID-19, overseas Vietnamese cannot return home. Even so, they still tribute their ancestors," said the ALOV president.

In the solemn atmosphere on Nghia Linh Mount, where the souls of Hung Kings rest, overseas Vietnamese respectfully lit up incense, paying tribute to the kings' merits.

Mr. Phan Van Bon, a Vietnamese who used to live in Thailand and returned home in the 1960s, has kept his habit of visiting Hung Kings' temple for the last 60 years. He is now Head of the Laos-Thailand branch in Hanoi Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese in Son Tay, Hanoi, Head of Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association Branch in Son Tay.

"A tree has its root, a stream has its source, a human has his ancestor. Vietnamese, wherever, all remember the Hung Kings commemoration day - Lunar 10th of March. I am glad that today I can join the delegation to visit the ancestors' land, burn incense to tribute Hung Kings's merits. I now have many relatives living in Laos and Thailand, so this visit is also to express my own and overseas Vietnamese's affection towards the ancestors, as well as encourage them to always remember their roots," said Mr. Pham Van Bon.

According to Bon, Vietnamese living abroad always yearn for the homeland. Therefore, whenever they come to Vietnam, the branch holds a visit to commemorate the Hung Kings.

On the Hung Kings commemoration day, many reunion activities are held abroad to enhance solidarity among overseas Vietnamese, promote the national images to international friends.

"On the Hung Kings commemoration day, many reunion activities are held abroad to enhance solidarity among overseas Vietnamese, promote the national images to international friends. In 2019, the commemoration ceremonies took place in Udon Thani (Thailand) and Vientiane (Laos)," said Bon.

Mr. Van Duong Duc Son (Vietnamese in Switzerland) felt emotional and happy that on his visit to the homeland, he had the opportunity to join the overseas Vietnamese delegation to visit Hung Kings' temple.

"I am very happy to join the Vietnamese expatriates to visit and burn incense to the ancestors. I am touched by the warmly welcome from the delegation organizers. Witnessing the flow of people from all over the world flocking here, I am really overwhelmed. This trip means returning to our roots. It also gives me a deeper understanding of the history and traditional culture so that I can educate my children to be more proud of Vietnam's country and people, connect them with their homeland", he shared.

Valerie Mai