An incense offering ceremony was held on February 13, or the ninth day of the first lunar month, at Kinh Thien palace in Hanoi’s Thang Long Imperial Citadel to commemorate the late Vietnamese Kings and those who rendered their services and made great contributions to the nation.

Drum performance at the ceremony

The ceremony featured various traditional rituals, including a palanquin procession staged by over 400 people, along with a dragon dance and a drum performance. 

Visitors were also offered a chance to watch performances by artists from the UNESCO Centre for Culture and Sport Development.

The Thang-Long Hanoi Relic Conservation Centre aims to make the incense offering ceremony an annual spiritual event to pay homage to national ancestors while honouring the traditional values of the citadel. 

The citadel was built in the 11th century during the Ly Dynasty to mark the independence of Dai Viet, the former name of Vietnam. The central sector of the imperial citadel was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 31, 2010. – VNA