President Vo Van Thuong offers incense and flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, February 2, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

The ritual was attended by100 overseas Vietnamese who are participating in the annual “Homeland Spring” program.

President Thuong also visited and extended Lunar New Year Greetings to the Ho Chi Minh City Police.

President Vo Van Thuong, his wife and leaders of HCM City join a traditional ritual of releasing carp at Nha Rong wharf on the day of the Land Genie and Kitchen Gods, February 2, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

In Vietnamese tradition, a Land Genie and Kitchen Gods worshipping ritual is held on the 23rd day of the last lunar month, which falls on February 2 this year.

This is considered the start of the Lunar New Year Festival, the biggest and most important Vietnamese holiday.

The image of a carp swimming upstream and then leaping over a waterfall and turning into a dragon is a symbol of steadfastness in surmounting challenges to secure success.