President offers incense to legendary ancestors of Vietnam

The State leader was accompanied by Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee (PCC), and Head of the Party Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac; Politburo member and Minister of Defence, General Phan Van Giang; PCC Secretary and President of Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien; along with the leaders of Phu Tho Province.

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (son of Kinh Duong Vuong) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of De Lai), who later gave birth to a pouch filled with one hundred eggs. The eggs then hatched into a hundred sons, who are said to be the ancestors of the Vietnamese nation. However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan went to the coast with 50 of the children, while Au Co went to the highlands with the rest.

Their eldest son was made king, named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (now known as Viet Tri City of Phu Tho Province), beginning the era of the Hung Kings.

To honour the merits of the legendary mother Au Co, a temple was built in Hien Luong Commune, Ha Hoa District, Phu Tho Province, under the order of King Le Thanh Tong (1442-1497). The temple was recognised as national historical and cultural site in 1991.

Another temple worshipping legendary father Lac Long Quan was also inaugurated on Sim Mountain in Chu Hoa District, Viet Tri City, Phu Tho province, in 2009.

The 10th day of the third lunar month was designated as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings. The worship of the Hung Kings was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012.