Hùng Kings' Day: Vietnamese in France celebrate heritage

Vietnamese in France unite to honor Hùng Kings' legacy and cultural roots

On the occasion of Hùng Kings' Commemoration Day, observed on the 10th day of the third lunar month (falling on April 26 this year), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Lê Hương shared his reflections with Việt Nam News reporter Nguyễn Khánh Chi. Dr. Hương, a high-speed rail specialist at the Engineering School of Paris, Gustave Eiffel University, spoke about the emotions of attending the 2025 celebration in France.

This is an annual event with a long-standing tradition that receives immense support and interest from the Vietnamese community across France. As a cultural event centered on our national roots, it embodies the beautiful Vietnamese tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source."

It serves as a bridge connecting Vietnamese people from all corners of the globe, reminding each individual of their ancestry and heritage. It is also a time for us to reflect on ourselves, heighten our national consciousness, and together spread the vibrant culture of Vietnam to our international friends.

Having been invited to the programme, I am deeply grateful for such a meaningfully structured event. It opened with the vibrant energy of festival drums and lion dances, followed by a formal ceremony to report our achievements, traditional art performances, and finally, the sacred incense offering.

The programme was professionally organised on a grand scale, yet it felt formal and warm. This reflects the deep sense of responsibility and care shown by the leaders of Vietnamese representative agencies in France in connecting the community. Their efforts help build a strong, sustainable community that is rich in national identity and always oriented toward the Fatherland.

The participation of various Vietnamese associations and student groups further demonstrates our people's unity. Above all, it shows that the younger generation is ready to inherit and promote the beautiful values of Vietnam, ensuring they continue to shine on the international stage.

This event should be held annually because it is a spiritual cultural activity steeped in national identity. It helps us honour the contributions of past generations while fostering a sense of personal responsibility.

At home in Vietnam, we naturally gain a deeper understanding through the surrounding cultural environment and visits to historical sites during our upbringing. However, for those living abroad, faced with geographical distance and dispersed communities, preserving cultural heritage becomes even more critical for the younger generation.

Such programmes offer youth a chance to understand their origins, lessons they might otherwise only hear through their parents' stories, and provide a clearer vision of the Vietnamese tradition of uống nướ;c nhớ nguồn (when drinking water, remember its source).

Furthermore, it nurtures the spiritual lives of the diaspora and promotes Vietnam's image to the world. We must also emphasise that cultural diplomacy is a top priority for the Party and State, as 'culture lights the way for the nation.' This principle has been formalised in the Politburo's Resolution No 80-NQ/TW regarding the future development of Vietnamese culture.

Every nation and every region possesses its own unique culture. Vietnam, with its long geography, is home to a diverse cultural landscape. Yet, throughout our S-shaped land, there is a common thread: the tradition of ancestor worship and a profound sense of gratitude toward those who came before us.

We recognise that every individual today 'stands on the shoulders of giants.' I believe this is a beautiful cultural value, not just for Vietnamese people, but for all of humanity. Progressive people around the world, particularly here in France, share this perspective and are deeply aware of their own responsibilities in life.

Therefore, bringing the Hùng Kings' Commemoration and other Vietnamese festivals to the international stage is essential in today's open society. It allows us to be more proactive in global integration, drawing international friends closer to our country while projecting our national image abroad.

During his lifetime, late President Hồ Chí Minh organised the First National Cultural Conference in 1946 at the Hanoi Opera House. This demonstrated his foresight regarding the vital importance of culture as the soul of the nation. However, due to various objective and subjective factors, it was not until 2021 that the Second National Cultural Conference was held. Speaking at this conference, the late Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọ;ng further reaffirmed the role of culture as "lighting the way for the nation." Concurrently, various presentations offered strategic "recommendations" to orient the development of Vietnamese culture and people in the new era, thereby creating a profound shift in the awareness and consciousness of the modern Vietnamese person.

Subsequently, the Politburo issued Resolution No 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnamese culture in the new period early this year. This illustrates that our Party and State consistently place a high priority on cultural development or in other words, on nurturing the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. These policies have received widespread support from Vietnamese citizens both at home and abroad, as "spiritual health" is an indispensable element for every individual. Overseas Vietnamese have also consistently received attention from the Party and State through action programmes such as "Homeland Spring," the Hùng Kings Commemoration anniversary held domestically, and visits to the Truờ;ng Sa (Spratly) Archipelago. These events always resonate deeply and create a sense of eager excitement among the overseas Vietnamese community.