During the official visit of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to Vietnam, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary To Lam, warmly received Mrs. Loo Tze Lui, spouse of the Prime Minister of Singapore, at the Presidential Palace.

In a cordial and open atmosphere, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her delight at meeting Mrs. Loo Tze Lui again, expressing confidence that the visit would be a great success, opening a new chapter in Vietnam-Singapore relations.

A gesture of friendship and cultural exchange

Reflecting on the recent official visit to Singapore two weeks ago, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her gratitude for the warm and respectful reception given to General Secretary To Lam, herself, and the Vietnamese delegation.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly fondly recalled the orchid-naming ceremony during her visit to Singapore, where a new orchid hybrid named Papilionanda To Lam Linh Ly was introduced. The orchid, which she continues to care for daily, was brought to the meeting as a symbol of lasting friendship.

Mrs. Loo Tze Lui, in turn, expressed her appreciation for the gracious welcome and noted the significance of this visit in strengthening bilateral ties.

Although her stay in Vietnam was brief, she had the opportunity to visit several cultural sites, including the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and enjoy traditional Vietnamese dishes, deepening her understanding of the country's rich history and cultural heritage.

Sharing cultural values through national symbols

The two first ladies shared stories about the cultural values of each country, particularly focusing on the national flowers - orchids for Singapore and lotus flowers for Vietnam.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly took the opportunity to introduce the art of Vietnamese textile weaving and presented Mrs. Loo Tze Lui with a beautifully designed ao dai featuring lotus flower patterns.

She explained the historical significance of the ao dai and the symbolism of the lotus, representing purity and resilience.

In response to this thoughtful gesture, Mrs. Loo Tze Lui presented a painting of the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid, Singapore's national flower, as a token of friendship and mutual respect.

Experiencing Vietnamese folk art

After the exchange of gifts, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly invited Mrs. Loo Tze Lui to enjoy a water puppet performance - a traditional folk art unique to Vietnam.

She expressed her hope that the performance would give Mrs. Loo Tze Lui a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and the everyday life of its people.

Mrs. Loo Tze Lui expressed her sincere gratitude for the warm and respectful reception, saying she looked forward to future opportunities to meet again and continue sharing insights into the diverse cultures of both nations.

Tran Thuong - Pham Hai