Vietnamese in Washington DC turn to their roots on Hung Kings' death anniversary

According to VNA correspondent in Washington, the Vietnamese Embassy's Spouses Association in the US organized a program of cultural exchange and traditional cuisine on the occasion of Hung Kings' death anniversary for Vietnamese people living, working and studying in Washington DC.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung and delegates offer incense to commemorate the Hung Kings. Photo: Kieu Trang/VNA reporter in Washington

The staff, students and pupils participating in the program interacted and shared beautiful stories, experiences and their own efforts to achieve success, and to be proud of being Vietnamese. Speaking at the program, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung said: “The Hung Kings' death anniversary is a very sacred holiday for Vietnamese people. Organizing the death anniversary for Vietnamese people abroad is even more important and meaningful, because they really need the spirit of community cohesion, spiritual support, and turning towards the national origin, so this is also a need of Vietnamese people abroad. Therefore, every year the Embassy organizes this activity with the desire to bring people a spiritual support, together turning towards the origin…”. According to Ambassador Tran Thi Bich Van, President of the Embassy's Wives and Husbands Association, this year's Hung King's death anniversary program also had the active participation of Vietnamese officials working at the World Bank, and students studying in the Washington DC area. Everyone joined hands with the Wives and Husbands Association from the program planning stage, implementing the steps, directly instructing the stages of making banh troi, banh chay, banh day... And especially, they self-composed and performed art performances that focused on the nation's roots such as: teaching each other to dance with bamboo poles, performing the conical hat dance, and singing together...

Students were very excited about the bamboo dance performance. Photo: Kieu Trang/VNA reporter in Washington

Ms. Minh Phuong, currently an officer of the World Bank in Washington DC, expressed her happiness to attend the program. She herself participated in the conical hat dance performance and was also the one who directly instructed the children to make banh troi and banh chay... But what made her happiest was that her daughter got to meet many fellow countrymen and people of the same age, and learned more about the culture and origins of the nation. As for students studying in the US, each time they participate in cultural exchange activities at the Embassy's Vietnam House is like returning to their beloved home, helping them ease their homesickness. The annual Hung King's Commemoration Day is not only a meaningful activity in terms of morality and culture, but also reminds us that no matter where we go or what we do, we must always demonstrate our responsibility and pride as Vietnamese people.

Kieu Trang - Hong Nguyen (Vietnam News Agency)