When ASEAN Consuls Wear Traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai and Join Hands…

On the evening of March 22, in Ho Chi Minh City, the consuls of Southeast Asian countries (Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia) joined hands, tightly grasping one another in traditional Vietnamese ao dai at the Friendship Exchange Meeting Vietnam – ASEAN + Spring Year of the Dragon 2024.

The Consuls General of Southeast Asian countries, along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Miss Nguyen Thanh Ha, Beauty Queen Ha Phuong, and distinguished guests, wore áo dài and joined hands to symbolize the friendship between Vietnam and ASEAN+

People-to-people diplomacy contributes to building the ASEAN Community 2025

The event, hosted by the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City in collaboration with the Institute for Cultural Preservation and Development of Southeast Asian Arts, took place at the Southern Bureau Building of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

This gathering served as an opportunity for information exchange, cultural interaction, and trade promotion between Vietnam and ASEAN countries within the global community. It is one of the annual events organized by Ho Chi Minh City to enhance the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to the development of the ASEAN Community by 2025 and beyond.

During the event, in his capacity as the rotating ASEAN Chair for 2024, Mr. Phonesy Bounmixay – the Consul General of Laos in Ho Chi Minh City, shared Laos’ plans and actions to “Enhance Connectivity and Resilience” within ASEAN, particularly appreciating the activities of the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, such as scholarship programs, exploring Vietnamese history and culture through films, and trips to the origins. Mr. Phonesy Bounmixay also expressed confidence in the future development of Ho Chi Minh City, which will significantly benefit from effective people-to-people diplomacy.

Mr. Phonesy Bounmixay, Consul General of Laos in Ho Chi Minh City, wore a Vietnamese áo dài and emphasized the beautiful and vibrant friendship between Vietnam and Laos over time.

In her speech at the event, Associate Professor Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan – President of the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City emphasized, “Harnessing internal resources and connecting external ones to effectively carry out people-to-people diplomacy contributes to affirming the role and importance of culture in development. These activities will help enhance trust and deepen the friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and the ASEAN + countries, as we move forward steadfastly.”

Through this event, the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City, the Institute for Cultural Preservation and Development of Southeast Asian Arts, and the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Research Center of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City signed a cooperation agreement. This collaboration is expected to promote research activities on Vietnam and Southeast Asia, contributing to the development of various fields in Vietnam in particular and the Southeast Asian region in general. This also serves as an important foundation for these units to continue leveraging their strengths in organizing cultural exchange forums, trade promotion, and enhancing research toward sustainable development within the ASEAN community, improving the quality of Vietnamese human resources to achieve the goals of the ASEAN community…

The Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City, the Institute for Research, Development, and Conservation of Southeast Asian Culture and Arts, and the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Research Center under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, signed a cooperation agreement. The Colors of ASEAN in Vietnamese Ao Dai

In addition to the participation of various government departments, city leaders, bilateral Vietnam – ASEAN friendship associations, and Vietnamese – ASEAN enterprises, the presence of consuls from ASEAN member states in elegant ao dai, rich in ASEAN colors, was notable.

The Consuls General of Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand wore Áo Dài designed by Anna Hanh Le.

Impressions from the Event on March 22nd When Five Consuls from Southeast Asian Countries (Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia) Wore Traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai at the Friendship Exchange Meeting Vietnam – ASEAN + Spring Year of the Dragon 2024.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, President of the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City: “All the ao dai collections that the consuls wore today are the result of the dedication of designer Anna Hanh Le, who is currently the Permanent Vice President of the Ao Dai Association of Ho Chi Minh City.”

Chan Sorykan, Consul General of Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City.

Chan Sorykan, Consul General of Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City.

The collection of ao dai named “ASEAN Sun Flowers” was inspired by the natural beauty of Vietnam and features sunflower details as the main motif. There are five special pieces designed specifically by the designer for the consuls from Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand participating in the program.

Associate Professor Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan also added, “The sunflower has been incorporated into the narrative of each country’s cultural identity, demonstrating the unity amidst the diversity of ASEAN’s culture, which is skillfully represented on high-quality Vietnamese silk. The message that the organizers and the designer want to convey through the ASEAN ao dai is the spirit of solidarity and friendship within ASEAN. By wearing ao dai at this event, the consuls demonstrated their support for the ao dai month in Ho Chi Minh City and the efforts of the young designer who stylized traditional elements, deepening the similarities in ASEAN culture; thus helping international politicians to understand, appreciate, and cherish the cultural values of the Vietnamese people.”

The Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City announced the decision and launched the Vietnam – ASEAN Net Zero Science and Cooperation Chapter

Source: https://toquoc.vn/khi-tong-lanh-su-asean-mac-ao-dai-truyen-thong-viet-nam-cung-nam-tay-nhau-20240323083153768.htm