The first Vietnamese Cultural Festival opened on Red Square

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly invited Russian guests to enjoy fried green rice and green rice cakes - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

On the afternoon of July 25, at Red Square - the center of Russia and Moscow - the 2025 Vietnam Cultural Festival was jubilantly opened with the presence of General Secretary To Lam's wife, Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly and many Russian friends.

Living proof of Vietnam - Russia cultural cooperation

The festival is held at the Red Square, a symbolic place of Russia, showing your respect for Vietnamese culture and your desire to bring Vietnamese culture closer to the Russian people. With about 1 million people visiting this area every month, the festival is an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Russians, especially young people, to get acquainted with and experience firsthand the cultural beauty of Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her emotion when the Vietnamese Cultural Festival with the theme "Vietnam - Colors from the tropics" took place on Red Square - the heart of Russia.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that this event of special significance is a prominent activity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. Over the past three-quarters of a century, the bilateral relationship has been continuously strengthened and developed in all fields.

The historical imprints of Vietnam-Russia friendship have been deeply imprinted in the minds and hearts of many generations of people of the two countries. Throughout that history, culture has always played the role of a bridge, closely connecting the people of Vietnam and Russia.

"The 2025 Vietnam Cultural Festival, with the quintessence and typical cultural colors of Vietnam, is one of the vivid proofs of the close cultural cooperation between the two countries," affirmed Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly gave the opening speech of the festival - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The festival is also an opportunity to experience the quintessence of Vietnamese culture - from traditional arts such as water puppetry, land puppetry, folk music, traditional silk and ao dai, "com" cuisine , handicrafts 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 - a nation that loves peace, values loyalty, is industrious and compassionate.

"The traditional, vibrant images, colors and flavors of a tropical country present in an ancient and majestic historical space will create a cultural picture that is both similar and complementary, enriching global cultural diversity," affirmed Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly.

Believing that what creates a lasting bond between Vietnam and Russia is the understanding and empathy of culture and people, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that the Vietnam Cultural Festival in Russia in 2025 is "a symbol of a relationship that is constantly renewing, constantly developing but always preserving its historical depth".

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and Vietnamese and Russian delegates at the opening ceremony - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Bridge to further connect the people of the two countries

Also attending and speaking at the opening ceremony, First Vice Chairman of the Russian Senate Andrey Yatskin and representatives of the Moscow city government affirmed that cultural events such as the Vietnam Cultural Festival 2025 at Red Square will help further connect the people of the two countries.

Emphasizing that Vietnam is one of the 7 countries with the most Russian tourists, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow believes that the festival will help more Russians understand and visit Vietnam and vice versa.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi affirmed that the festival is one of the results of the successful talks between General Secretary To Lam and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in May 2025. The festival being held for the first time in Red Square has a special significance, attracting the attention of Russian people, thereby helping them understand more about the country and people of Vietnam.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and the delegates visited and experienced the booths introducing Vietnamese cuisine, Ao Dai, and lacquerware. The experiences left a deep and good impression in the hearts of the delegates and the Russian people about a peaceful Vietnam, rich in cultural traditions and hospitality.

Some pictures from the first day of the festival

Performances at the festival opening ceremony - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The typical Vietnamese three-door gate is also the entrance to the festival - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Another familiar image, the water puppetry pavilion, also appeared at Red Square - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Russian guests are especially interested in Vietnamese water puppetry - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly introduces Vietnamese lacquer products to Russian guests - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The lacquer collection introduced at the festival was personally designed by Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Russian model shows off Vietnamese Ao Dai - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The Ao Dai show impressed viewers when the beauty of two cultures blended together - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly with delegates at the Ao Dai show area - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Coffee, one of the indispensable drinks of Vietnamese people, is also indispensable at the festival - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Photo exhibition brings Vietnam and its people closer to Russian friends - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Coming to the festival, visitors can not only watch but also experience typical Vietnamese musical instruments such as gongs, T'rung,... - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Before the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly had a meeting with representatives of the Moscow city government (left) and the First Vice President of the Russian Senate (right). The Russian side highly appreciated the significance of the festival and the presence of Mrs. General Secretary To Lam - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The Vietnamese Cultural Festival will last from July 25 to August 3, 2025. During the 10 days of the festival, Russian people and tourists from other countries coming to Red Square will be immersed in the rich flavors of Vietnam.

True to its name, the festival includes traditional music performances, puppetry and water puppetry with the theme "Tropical Sounds"; a booth introducing Vietnamese cuisine with the theme "The Flavor of Com: The Quintessence of Hanoi, The Soul of the Red River"; an area introducing and performing Vietnamese Ao Dai "Hanoi - 12 Flower Seasons"; introducing and displaying Vietnamese lacquer products "Vuon Son - Tropical Colors"; a photo exhibition space "Vietnam, Country, People".

In addition to the Ao Dai performance, cuisine, and water puppetry, there is also a special lacquer collection personally designed by Madam Ngo Phuong Ly specifically for the festival.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tung-bung-khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-viet-nam-dau-tien-tren-quang-truong-do-20250726041144466.htm#content-6