Vietnam President Leads Homeland Spring Incense Ceremony Honouring National Unity in Hanoi
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: State President Lương Cường, accompanied by his wife, official delegates and 100 overseas Vietnamese (OVs), on Sunday led an incense-offering ceremony at the statue of King Lý Thái Tổ and Ngọc Sơn Temple in downtown Hànội, marking the 20th day of the final lunar month.
Held under the annual Homeland Spring programme—jointly organised by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hà Nội People’s Committee—the ceremony conveyed a strong message of great national unity. It reaffirmed that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the nation and have consistently accompanied the homeland’s development.
The event underscored the Party and State’s affection for Vietnamese communities abroad, promoting patriotism while encouraging the preservation of Việtnam’s cultural identity, traditions and language. It also sought to foster confidence and inspire aspirations among overseas Vietnamese to contribute to the country’s sustainable development in the new era.
Joined by representatives from ministries, agencies and Hànội authorities, the president and participants respectfully offered incense to honour King Lý Thái Tổ and the forebears who built and defended Thăng Long – Hànội for more than a millennium, safeguarding the nation and enriching its cultural and historical heritage. Prayers were offered for national peace and prosperity and for Việtnam to advance toward a new era defined by peace, independence, democracy, prosperity, civility and happiness.
The tribute concluded with the symbolic release of carp into Hoàn Kiếm Lake—a ritual performed ahead of the traditional day of sending the Kitchen Gods to heaven on the 23rd day of the final lunar month. The act symbolises perseverance and ambition, evoking the carp leaping over the dragon’s gate as a metaphor for growth and success.
In a warm and festive atmosphere celebrating the Party and welcoming the Lunar New Year, President Cường and his wife engaged with overseas Vietnamese about their work and daily lives. The president expressed heartfelt gratitude for their enduring affection for the homeland and extended best wishes for a year of peace, prosperity and success.
Earlier, the OV delegation paid tribute at the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum and laid wreaths at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs on Bắc Sơn Street in Hànội.
With the theme “Việtnam’s Aspiration: Peace and Prosperity,” the Homeland Spring 2026 programme runs from February 6 to 9 in Hànội, with additional activities in Ninh Bình Province. The dual-location format, linking destinations with deep cultural roots, reflects respect for historical values and confidence in Việtnam’s development potential. The programme is expected to welcome around 1,500 overseas Vietnamese delegates and their relatives.
