On Sunday, April 26, 2026, Vietnamese communities in France gathered in Paris to observe the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day, marking the second consecutive year the solemn ceremony has been held in the French capital. The event, organized by the Embassy of Vietnam in France in collaboration with the Vietnam Cultural Centre and various overseas associations, took place amid a reverent atmosphere as participants honored the nation’s legendary founders and reflected on their cultural roots.
According to reports from VietnamPlus and confirmed by the Vietnam Embassy in France, the commemorative activities began with vibrant lion dances and traditional Vietnamese martial arts performances, symbolizing the courage, vitality, and chivalric spirit associated with the nation’s heritage. These artistic displays were followed by formal rites, including incense offerings and prayers, conducted in accordance with long-standing customs observed annually on the 10th day of the third lunar month.
The Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day, known in Vietnamese as Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương, is a national public holiday in Vietnam that honors the legendary Hùng kings, regarded as the founders of the Văn Lang state and symbols of Vietnamese identity and unity. In 2012, UNESCO inscribed the worship of the Hùng Kings in Phú Thọ Province on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing its enduring significance in Vietnamese cultural life.
In Vietnam, the holiday is observed with nationwide ceremonies, the most prominent of which occurs at the Hùng Temple complex on Nghĩa Lĩnh Mountain in Phú Thọ Province. However, for Vietnamese citizens living abroad, the day serves as a vital opportunity to maintain connections with their homeland through community-led observances that emphasize ancestral reverence and cultural continuity.
The 2026 Paris ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Ambassador Trần Đắc Hải of Vietnam to France, Ambassador Nguyễn Thị Bình An representing Vietnam at UNESCO, Anoâ Susan Du솔, Vietnam Tourism Ambassador to France, and Bùi Vọng Huân, President of the France-Vietnam Association. Their presence underscored the diplomatic and communal importance of the event as a means of strengthening ties between Vietnam and its diaspora.
Organizers highlighted that the celebration in Paris forms part of a broader effort to preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural values among overseas communities, particularly younger generations. By combining traditional rituals with contemporary cultural expressions, the event aimed to reinforce the moral principle often associated with the holiday: “When drinking water, remember its source” — a proverb encapsulating gratitude for one’s origins and ancestral legacy.
This year’s observance in Paris followed the pattern established in 2025, when the first officially recognized Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day ceremony was held in the city. That inaugural event also featured participation from embassy officials, cultural representatives, and members of various Vietnamese associations across France, setting a precedent for annual observances in Europe.
Although the holiday itself is fixed according to the lunar calendar — falling on the 10th day of the third lunar month — its corresponding date on the Gregorian calendar varies each year. In 2026, this aligned with April 26, a Sunday, which meant no substitute weekday holiday was required under Vietnam’s labor regulations. The holiday is legally recognized as a single-day paid public holiday under the Vietnamese Labour Code of 2019, which mandates paid leave for all workers on nationally designated observances.
For Vietnamese expatriates, such gatherings provide more than symbolic value. they function as active mechanisms for cultural transmission, community bonding, and emotional resonance with national identity. Events like the Paris ceremony allow participants to engage with shared histories, languages, and customs in a foreign context, helping sustain a sense of belonging despite geographic distance.
The Vietnam Embassy in France has indicated plans to continue organizing the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day ceremony in Paris on an annual basis, viewing it as a cornerstone of its outreach to the Vietnamese community in Europe. Future iterations are expected to maintain the current format — blending formal rites with cultural performances — while potentially expanding collaboration with local French institutions to promote cross-cultural understanding.
As of the date of this report, no official announcements have been made regarding changes to the 2027 observance schedule. Individuals seeking updates on upcoming ceremonies or related cultural events hosted by Vietnamese diplomatic missions in France are encouraged to consult the official website and social media channels of the Embassy of Vietnam in France.
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