Thousand join traditional costume performance for Hung Kings’ Commemoration in Ho Chi Minh City
More than 1,000 people took part in a traditional costume performance at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens on Saturday to mark the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day.
Participants dressed in historical Vietnamese attire from different periods paraded through the grounds, which hosted a series of cultural activities recreating traditional rituals.
The event featured a ceremonial procession with flags, palanquins, and offerings, alongside a reenactment of a southern Vietnamese village ritual linked to royal court practices from the Nguyen dynasty (1802–1945), the last imperial dynasty of Vietnam.
Organizers said the costumes and ceremonial objects were researched and reconstructed based on historical materials with input from experts.
Participants join a traditional costume event aimed at promoting cultural preservation and education during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
The program aimed to promote awareness of Vietnam's cultural heritage and encourage preservation among younger generations.
The Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, observed on the 10th day of the third lunar month, honors Vietnam's legendary founders and is a national holiday.
A traditional costume procession performs a ritual at the Hung Kings Temple during commemorations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
Participants wearing a variety of traditional Vietnamese costumes parade during a cultural event marking the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
Participants wearing a variety of traditional Vietnamese costumes parade during a cultural event marking the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
A ceremonial procession reenacting a southern Vietnamese Ky Yen village ritual is performed during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day event at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
Anh Nhu, 22, working at the An Hoi Dong Ward military command, wears traditional attire while presenting offerings associated with the Hung Kings during a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
A ceremonial procession reenacting a southern Vietnamese Ky Yen village ritual is performed during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day event at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
Participants join a traditional costume event aimed at promoting cultural preservation and education during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
A young participant presents ‘banh giay,’ a traditional Vietnamese rice cake linked to the legend of the Hung Kings, during a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
Young people take part in costume activities during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, April 25, 2026. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre
Bao Anh - Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre News