Deputy PM Nhan made the statement at the opening ceremony for the annual festival to commemorate the nation’s founders and the Hung Kings Temple Festival, which began on the evening of April 14 in the midland province of Phu Tho.

The festival is seen as a connection between the past, the present and the future of the nation, he said.

The ceremony opened with a flag dance, a national martial art performance, and the procession of 18 votive tablets of 18 Hung Kings.

Ten trays of offerings brought across the country were also presented to the Kings.

As part of the festival, over 1,000 professional and amateur artists joined an art performance entitled “Hung Kings’ Holy Ancestral Land”, which was jointly held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Phu Tho provincial People’s Committee.

According to legend, the Vietnamese nation, named Van Lang, was founded by Emperor Hung Vuong about 40 centuries ago. This dynasty lasted for 18 generations and led Vietnam towards development.

To honour the country’s founding fathers, the holy Hung Vuong site was built in 250BC in Phu Tho and has since become one of the most popular sites in the country. The annual Hung Kings anniversary is held on the 10th day of the third lunar month.

The dynasty made many outstanding achievements including the founding of old Vietnam as an independent nation and the establishment of several administrative, social and economic institutions, which made up the original Vietnamese nation.