In her welcoming remarks, HUFO President Ha Thanh stressed that the Lunar New Year (Tet) is one of the most sacred cultural traditions of the Vietnamese people. It is not only a moment to welcome the new year, but also an occasion for family reunions, strengthening bonds and cherishing humanistic values.

According to Thanh, with the desire to share the beauty of Tet with international friends, HUFO organised the programme to create opportunities for diplomats working in the city and their families to engage in warm exchanges and build closer ties through Vietnamese traditional cultural activities, leaving them with lasting and memorable impressions of a traditional Vietnamese Tet in a civilised, modern and compassionate city.

Consuls general and their families, dressed in traditional Vietnamese ao dai, took part in a variety of activities imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity, including visits to the Ao Dai Museum; enjoying traditional performances such as lion–dragon dances, ceremonial drumming and quan ho (love duet) folk singing; and hands-on experiences like making banh tet and banh it, painting piggy banks, moulding to he figurines and practising calligraphy.

Wearing a Vietnamese ao dai, Pang Te Cheng, Singaporean Consul General, expressed his excitement and happiness at gaining a deeper understanding of the history and distinctive features of the ao dai, which reflects the rich cultural creativity of Vietnamese designers. He noted that Vietnam’s Lunar New Year celebrations differ from those in some other Asian countries, with more flowers, more elaborate decorations and a greater sense of joy. The programme was a fascinating New Year experience that conveyed the positive energy and aspirations of a dynamic nation.

Alexandra Smith, UK Consul General, said it was an honour to experience Vietnamese culture and to learn about the beauty of the Vietnamese ao dai, its exquisite craftsmanship and its value as a symbolic cultural heritage.

The programme was described as a practical activity to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between HUFO and diplomatic missions in Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to people-to-people diplomacy while promoting traditional Vietnamese culture to international friends./. VNA