Delegates offer incenses at the ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA)

Kinh Thien Palace was the center of power of the ancient Thang Long capital, now Hanoi, a place believed to embody the sacred energy of heaven and earth and a symbol of national continuity and the royal lineage for centuries. The ritual was conducted with court ceremonial practices combined with elements of traditional folk festivals. It prayed for a prosperous new year, honored historical traditions, and paid tribute to the ancestors.

Former Director of the National Museum of History, Dr. Pham Quoc Quan, said, “The Spring Incense-Offering Ceremony marks the beginning of a new year and honors the national traditions. For agricultural communities, spring is the season of growth and renewal. The Thang Long Imperial Citadel’s organization of this ceremony aims to maintain traditional culture and create new momentum for the country’s development.”