Vietnamese Culture Week Celebrates Deep Ties with Laos

VIENTIANE: The 2024 Vietnamese culture week commenced in Vientiane, Laos, celebrating the strong and enduring friendship between Vietnam and Laos. The event, themed 'Colours of Vietnamese Culture, Vietnam-Laos Friendship', is a joint initiative by Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and Laos' Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism. According to Lao News Agency, the opening ceremony featured remarks from Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hoang Dao Cuong, who underscored the event's significance not just as an annual tradition, but as a testament to Vietnam's ongoing commitment to fostering a deeper relationship with Laos. Cuong expressed optimism that the performances by Vietnamese artists would enlighten both Vietnamese and Lao audiences, as well as international visitors, about the richness of Vietnamese culture, while also offering a moment to reflect on the historical ties and future cooperation between the two nations. Lao Deputy Minister of Information, Cul ture, and Tourism, Vansy Kouamoua, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing that the event exemplifies the robust and longstanding friendship between the countries. He noted that the cultural week aligns with the Laos-Vietnam Cultural, Artistic, and Tourism Cooperation Plan for 2021-2025, a strategic framework to enhance cultural and interpersonal exchanges. The event featured performances by a Vietnamese art troupe and students from the Nguyen Du bilingual school in Vientiane, highlighting Vietnam's rich cultural heritage. The performances paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and celebrated the countries' friendship, while expressing affection for the Vietnamese homeland and its people. Traditional Vietnamese instruments, including the bamboo flute, dan bau, and dan tinh, were employed to evoke a spectrum of emotions, taking the audience on a sonic journey through Vietnam's varied landscapes and natural splendor. The Vietnamese culture week in Laos stands as a pivotal cultural exchange, underscoring the extensive and multifaceted ties that bind Vietnam and Laos, and reinforcing their enduring partnership and cooperation.