The Vietnamese Cultural Days in the US kicked off in Washington D.C. on August 8 to mark the 20th founding anniversary of Viet Nam-US diplomatic ties (1995-2015).
The programme entitled “Huong Sac Viet Nam” (Essence of Viet Nam) put the first note to the opening ceremony, entailing a folk music performance and a traditional “ao dai” show.
Addressing the event, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said Viet Nam and the US have witnessed significant achievements in bilateral comprehensive cooperation over the past 20 years.
He highlighted culture and people-to-people exchange as important factors to promote the friendship, reconciliation and peace between the two nations.
The cultural days programme is expected to help the US people understand more about Viet Nam - a beautiful, peaceful, and hospitable nation which is home to 21 tangible and intangible world cultural heritage sites recognised by UNESCO, he said.
Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, Mara Tekach, said the programme demonstrates the progress in the Viet Nam-US relations, especially since they established diplomatic ties 20 years ago.
She added that the Vietnamese community in the US has been playing a significant role in promoting people-to-people exchange and cultural understanding between the two countries.
A fashion show titled “Miraculous Transformation” will be staged on August 9 night to introduce special collections made from Vietnamese ethnic fabric by top Vietnamese designers like Lan Huong, Quang Nhat, Chula, and Minh Hanh.
Slated for August 10, the “Colors of Vietnamese Ethnic Cultures” programme will feature traditional music and dances as well as western music performed on Vietnamese bamboo musical instruments.
Meanwhile, the “Night of Lotus” programme hopes to entertain US audiences and overseas Vietnamese with traditional music and dances celebrating the beauty of lotus as the soul of Viet Nam.
Organised by the Viet Nam Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnamese Embassy in the US, and the Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations, the Vietnamese cultural days in the US will run until August 12 in Washington D.C. and New York City.