VIET NAM DAYS IN INDIA 2022: A half century of building up traditional friendship

New Delhi (India), December 12, 2022 – Viet Nam Days in India 2022 is currently taking place from December 12 to 14 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and India and will be the last activity of Viet Nam Days Abroad 2022, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Viet Nam and India are closely linked by culture. The two countries have supported each other during their struggle for independence and national liberation since the early twentieth century. Over half a century, Viet Nam and India elevated their diplomatic relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, cooperating extensively and effectively in different fields, bringing about achievements and mutual interests for the people of the two countries.

Taking place in New Delhi (India), Viet Nam Days in India 2022 contributes to introducing the unique features of Vietnamese people and culture to the public in India, consolidating traditional friendship, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, trade, and tourism between the two countries.

The program is honored to have the presence of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Viet Nam to India Nguyen Thanh Hai, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, Minister of State for External Affairs of India Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Kumar Tuhin, Deputy Director of Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dao Quyen Truong,  and representatives of ministries, departments, diplomatic corps and local and international friends in India.

“Magical Night”: Special Art Performance to spotlight Viet Nam – India cultural interference

Viet Nam and India have shared a century-long history and cultural similarities even though the two countries only established diplomatic relations in 1972. Viet Nam – India cultural linkages originated from the 5th to the 3rd centuries BC, reflecting in areas such as architecture, art, religion, etc. One such highly sophisticated and refined civilization, which has a historical civilizational connection with India, is the Champa civilization, also known as the Cham civilization, in Viet Nam. In other words, the Cham civilization has brought unique elements of Indian culture closer to the Vietnamese.

Under the framework of Viet Nam Days in India 2022, Magical Night Art Performance offers the public the opportunity to learn about Viet Nam – India cultural connection. Some notable art performances such as Cham Dance, Tac Xinh (San Chay community), Then singing (Tay, Nung, Thai people), Lon Sluong (Nung ethnic group), Lon Coi (Tay ethnic group), and impressive monochord solo Indian Dance spotlighted Vietnamese culture in the eyes of the public in India.

The program brings together artists from the Viet Bac Folk and Dance Theater, including People’s Artist Quang Vinh, Manh Tien, Duong Men, Pham Tinh, Do Nhuan, Nong Viet Toai, People’s Artist Le Khinh, People’s Artist Kim Chung, Meritorious Artist Ba Thai, Ha Tu Thien, Meritorious Artist Minh Hue, Hong Hat, etc.

Speaking at the program, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong shared: “This art performance is a vivid demonstration of the cultural exchange between Viet Nam and India. At the program, audiences in India have the opportunity to enjoy the unique ethnic art forms of Viet Nam, including those that have been recognized as UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage. I believe this meaningful cultural event will contribute to consolidating and further promoting the friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and India”.

 Vietnamese Cultural Space

As the highlight of the series Viet Nam Days Abroad 2022, Vietnamese Cultural Space continues to introduce the unique features of Vietnamese culture, making them available and accessible to international friends. The public in India had the chance to experience Vietnamese folk art forms such as Dong Ho folk painting art, To he molding art, and performances of ethnic musical instruments.

In addition, Vietnamese Cultural Space also provides participants with an opportunity to learn about the beauty of Vietnamese people and their daily lives through the Viet Nam Vitality exhibition. The exhibition features outstanding books, photos, and magazines, especially those about President Ho Chi Minh, successfully showcasing the image of a vibrant, rich in culture, and promising Viet Nam.

In particular, Vietnamese lacquer art is presented in different forms, including lacquer painting performances by artist Tran Anh Tuan – Lecturer of Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, an exhibition of engraved lacquer paintings recreating the folk paintings of Hang Trong, Dong Ho, and Kim Hoang by Latoa – a group of artists devoted to preserving traditional materials and values.

India has long been well-known as one of the leading countries in the world in the fields of technological innovation, outsourcing, high-tech services, etc. Therefore, for the last activity of this year’s series, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has collaborated with partners to bring to the Indian public the opportunity to experience Vietnamese culture through a unique form – the 3D digital exhibition on Vietnamese lacquer art and the video game Lac Viet Adventures.

In addition, participants also have an opportunity to discover the Vietnamese culinary culture by enjoying famous dishes prepared by the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Delhi and chefs of Vietnamese restaurants in New Delhi.

Golden opportunity to boost Viet Nam – India tourism cooperation

India is an important and potential market for Viet Nam’s tourism industry. After the Covid-19 pandemic, Viet Nam opened up to international tourism and witnessed an increasing number of Indian tourists. According to the General Statistics Office, in November 2022, Viet Nam welcomed 27,000 tourists from India, an increase of 31% over the previous month and 50% higher than in the same period in 2019. Generally, for the first 11 months of 2022, the total number of Indian tourists to Viet Nam reached 109,000, ranking 5th out of the ten international tourist markets to Viet Nam.

Within the framework of Viet Nam Days in India 2022, Viet Nam Tourism Promotion Forum in India on December 14th is a meaningful activity, demonstrating the efforts to promote bilateral cooperation between the management agencies and businesses of the two countries, based on the results achieved by the tourism industry. The forum comprises three main discussion sessions, focusing on introducing the potential of Viet Nam’s tourism. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to study the insights of Indian tourists, discuss aviation connections, and promote unique types of tourism that meet the needs of Indian tourists, such as culinary tourism, wedding party tourism, MICE tourism, Golf tourism, resort tourism, and cinema tourism.

Viet Nam Days in India 2022 is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO Affairs), Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Vietnamese Embassy in India, and other partners, including Mark&B, Le Bros Group, and sponsors such as Vietjet (the official air transportation sponsor of the Program) and Coca-Cola Vietnam. It is the second time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has chosen India as the destination for the series of Viet Nam Days Abroad Programs. Previously, Viet Nam Days in India was first held in early March 2018 on the occasion of the bilateral visit of former President Tran Dai Quang to India.

Viet Nam Days Abroad is an annual national promotion program, assigned by the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2010. The program usually takes place on the sidelines of Vietnamese high-level Leaders’ official visits to other countries, on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations, receiving positive responses from  localities, businesses, agencies, organizations, international friends, and overseas Vietnamese.

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Follow the latest information about Viet Nam Days in India 2022 and Viet Nam Days Abroad 2022 on such platforms as:

Viet Nam Days Abroad Fanpage – Viet Nam Days Abroad

Website: http://vietnamdaysabroad.mofa.gov.vn

 

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For more information, please contact:

 

Mr. Nguyen Nam Khanh

Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO Affairs
Phone:0396211988
Email: khanhnamnguyen@gmail.com

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong

Le & Brothers Limited Company (Le Bros)
Phone: 0939271211
Email: phuongnt.pr@lebrothers.com