The event is one of the major activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and aims to strengthen their traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau provincial People's Committee, Ho Van Nien, highlighted the fine development of Vietnam-RoK relations, especially in political, diplomatic, and economic fields, as well as trade, investment, culture, and education.

Nien said that Ba Ria-Vung Tau province has recently boosted exchanges and cooperation with RoK localities in various areas such as economics, culture, and social affairs.

An exhibition of photographs featuring the close relationship between Vietnam and the RoK will also be held during the week-long event. Other activities include a culinary exchange, music and dance performances, a film festival, a Taekwondo tournament, and a friendly football match.

As a result of the strategic partnership between the two countries, their two-way trade turnover increased to nearly US$18.6 last year. The RoK has also become one of Vietnam's largest foreign investors, with a total investment capitalization of US$24 billion in 2011.