Brilliant Cultural Festival "Vietnam - Colors from the Tropics" in Russia

Cultural Festival "Vietnam - Colors from the tropics." (Photo: Tam Hang/VNA)

On July 25, the Vietnamese Cultural Festival "Vietnam - Colors from the Tropics" opened at Red Square in Moscow (Russian Federation).

The event was hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in the Russian Federation, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Moscow City Government, continuing a series of events celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The festival was honored to welcome the wife of General Secretary Ngo Phuong Ly, Vice Chairman of the Federation Council (Senate) of Russia Andrei Yatskin, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Dang Minh Khoi, and Deputy Mayor of Moscow Natalia Sergunina.

For the first time, the most solemn space in front of Red Square in the center of the Russian capital is filled with the colors and flavors of Vietnamese culture.

Passing through the winding bamboo hedges, the capital's people gradually become acquainted with the quintessence of Vietnam through all their senses: the majestic sound of gongs, the graceful traditional ao dai, the aroma of Central Highlands coffee, the excitement of folk festivals, and the exquisite talent of craft villages from many regions of the country.

Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council (Senate) of Russia Andrei Yatskin, on behalf of Chairwoman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, welcomed the Vietnam Cultural Festival in the most hospitable space in Moscow, affirming that the event is an affirmation of the friendship between the two peoples.

The leader of the Russian Federation Council emphasized that the high level of trust between President Vladimir Putin and General Secretary To Lam has created conditions for the two sides to make great strides in cooperation in various fields, including culture and humanities, and the Vietnam Cultural Festival is one such step forward.

Mr. Yatskin believes that during the holidays, tourists and all Muscovites will have wonderful emotional experiences.

Expressing gratitude to the Russian Government and the city of Moscow, and to all the people of both countries attending the festival, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, the wife of General Secretary Ngo Phuong Ly - the main designer of the festival program, emotionally mentioned the sincere feelings and friendship between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations 75 years ago.

That sentiment is nothing other than solidarity, trust and sharing, the companionship of generations of Soviet and Russian experts in all projects to rebuild Vietnam after the war, the Russian-Vietnamese teacher-student relationship that created generations of core cadres for Vietnam, and the love and understanding across borders of countless Russian-Vietnamese families.

Party General Secretary Ngo Phuong Ly's wife attends the Cultural Festival "Vietnam - Colors from the Tropics" in Moscow. (Photo: Tam Hang/VNA)

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that throughout the 75-year journey full of affection, culture has always been a bridge closely connecting the people of the two countries and today's festival of Vietnam's cultural quintessence is a living proof of that strong cooperation.

Coming to the festival, people including many overseas Vietnamese have the opportunity to experience the quintessence of Vietnamese culture, from traditional arts such as water puppetry, land puppetry, folk music, to traditional silk and ao dai, cuisine, and lacquer jewelry.

Each performance, each booth, each cultural product is not only an expression of aesthetics, but also contains the historical depth and soul of the Vietnamese people who love peace, value loyalty and are full of compassion.

The Lady hopes that the vibrant colors and traditional flavors of the tropical country presented in the ancient and majestic space of Moscow will create a cultural picture that is both similar and complementary, enriching global cultural diversity.

The Lady concluded that today's Cultural Festival is a symbol of a relationship that is constantly changing and developing, but still retains its historical depth, including the significant contribution of the Vietnamese community in the Russian Federation.

Com stall at the festival. (Photo: Tam Hang/VNA)

Speaking to a reporter from the Vietnam News Agency in the Russian Federation, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi said that Madam Ngo Phuong Ly's passion for promoting Vietnamese culture abroad has created great motivation for everyone around her, for the creative community, and for overseas Vietnamese to create this special cultural diplomacy event.

Here, culture is performing its noble function: bringing the identity of Vietnam to international friends in the simplest and most sincere ways.

From now until August 3, the Vietnam Cultural Festival will feature many art performances: Traditional music, Land and Water Puppetry, culinary introduction, Ao Dai performance, introduction of traditional musical instruments. Especially, for the first time, a Water Pavilion for Vietnamese water puppetry will be built for the Russian public.

The program is a subtle combination of traditional water puppetry and modernized dry puppetry, introducing to the audience typical, joyful and lively images of the Vietnamese countryside - where children herd buffaloes, farmers plow, where flutes sound in the rice fields and the bustling Vietnamese music space. The performances are newly and creatively staged with lively folk music, colorful costumes and skillful performing techniques - both preserving the folk soul and finding the spirit of the times.

On the opening day, the festival space was full, with many people lining up waiting for their turn to attend the festival.

The booths are exhibition spaces, where artisans introduce their products, arts, customs and practices, where overseas Vietnamese seek out images of their beloved homeland, and where Russian friends are inspired to see with their own eyes the land of hospitality and unforgettable warm feelings./.