Hai Duong youth turn to their roots

About the Homeland

Instead of going back to the homeland for sightseeing and tourism as usual, this year, some young people in Hai Duong chose to participate in the "Hung Temple Spirituality Marathon 2024" with the theme "Returning to the source" held for the first time within the framework of the Hung Temple Festival in Phu Tho province. The Hai Duong Runners Club has 80 members participating in this journey back to the source, mainly young people.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong from Cam Thuong Ward (Hai Duong City) was the group leader. Looking back on the trip, Ms. Phuong shared that this was not only a race but also a journey back to the source, back to the sacred Ancestral Land.

"When it was launched, everyone responded enthusiastically because of the love, inspiration in every step and especially because of the meaning of the origin of this race," said Ms. Phuong.

The route of the Hung Temple Spirituality Marathon 2024 is even more meaningful when passing through many famous constructions, relics, and tourist attractions of Viet Tri city such as Mai An Tiem Lake, Van Lang Park... Walking on this route, many athletes from Hai Duong were immersed in the experience of the unique source and nature, the simple life of the people of the Ancestral Land. The youngest contestant in the group was only 14 years old, the oldest was 60 years old, but everyone shared the same excited spirit on the journey to the source.

On this occasion, some young people in Hai Duong also came to Phu Tho to visit and learn about the relics and historical and cultural values ​​in the land of the Hung Kings.

Making Banh Giay to Remember the Ancestors' Death Anniversary

On the occasion of Hung Kings' death anniversary this year, some schools in Hai Duong organized many meaningful activities for children to experience and learn about the beauty of traditional culture.

Nam Sach Town Kindergarten had a booth displaying a model of a rice mill, a rice cake pounding mortar, and various types of rice for students to experience. Coming to this small booth, many students were engrossed in learning and were explained by teachers about the awareness of cherishing each grain of pure white rice. They learned that rice grains are the result of many efforts in sowing, milling, pounding, grinding, and winnowing. That in the old days, during the reign of King Hung, rice grains were so precious that Lang Lieu used them to make Chung cakes and Giay cakes to offer as offerings.

Some schools organize storytelling competitions for students, performing arts, and acting in plays with stories related to the Hung Kings' death anniversary, the story of the hundred-egg sac, and the Hung Kings' reigns...

Near the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary, many young people in Hai Duong also have different ways to remember their roots. Ms. Nguyen Lan Thuong, born in 2000 in Duy Tan ward, Kinh Mon town (Hai Duong) chose to buy 4-flavor banh giay to worship her ancestors. "A box of banh giay costs only 50,000 VND with all the flavors, not just plain, so the whole family likes it. Among them, the original white flavor of this traditional dish is indispensable. No need to go far, everyone in the family can feel the flavor of Hung Kings' Death Anniversary to remember their roots," Ms. Thuong shared.

Many young people who work and live far from home plan to spend the whole holiday with their family and have a cozy meal together.