"Vietnam Days in India 2022" helps strenghthenging Vietnam-India ties: Guests experience Vietnamese culture at the event. (Photo: WVR/Van Chi).

Vietnam Day in India 2022 not only introduces the beauty of the country, people and unique features of Vietnamese culture to the Indian public, but also contributes to strengthening the traditional friendship, mutlifaceted ties and tourism development between Vietnam and India. The program includes the Magical Night Art Performance (December 12), Vietnam Cultural Space event (December 13), Vietnam Tourism Forum in India (December 14).

On December 12 evening, the opener of the programme was the Magical Night Art Performance by artists from the Viet Bac Folk Music and Dance Theater.

"Vietnam Days in India 2022" helps strenghthenging Vietnam-India ties: An art performance at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong said that this art performance is a vivid demonstration of the cultural exchange between Vietnam and India, as audience in India had a chance to enjoy unique art forms of Vietnam, including those that have been recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

This cultural programme contributes to consolidating and promoting the friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, he stressed.

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai speaks at the opening ceremony of "Vietnam Cultural Space" on December 13, 2022, (Photo: WVR/Van Chi).

On December 13, the Vietnamese Cultural Space at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi was the highlight of the programme, during which visitors could experience Vietnamese folk art forms such as Dong Ho folk painting, ‘to he’ (toy figurines), and performances of ethnic musical instruments.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of "Vietnam Cultural Space", Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai affirmed that India and Vietnam have had civilization exchanges and cultural connections thousands of years ago. In particular, the interaction is also reflected in the close relationship between generations of Vietnamese and Indian people, notably the friendship between President Ho Chi Minh and the leaders of India. This is a solid foundation for Vietnam and India to work together to cultivate a growing comprehensive strategic partnership.

According to Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai, through the Vietnamese Cultural Space imbued with national identity, the Embassy wishes to introduce to the Indian people the unique features of Vietnamese culture, and to immerse themselves in the heritages, tangible and intangibles which are recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Vietnam.

"Let's love Vietnam like Vietnamese people have long loved watching Bollywood movies, practicing Yoga and passionate about Indian cuisine", the Ambassador emphasized.

"Vietnam Cultural Space" is provided participants with an opportunity to learn about the beauty of Vietnamese people and their daily lives through the Vietnam Vitality exhibition featuring outstanding books, photos, and magazines, especially those about President Ho Chi Minh.

On December 14, as the last activity in the program, Vietnam Tourism Forum in India attracted the presence of a large number of representatives of Indian companies, businesses, travel agencies and 12 Vietnamese tourism businesses interested in the Indian market.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong speaks at the Vietnam Tourism Forum in India, December 14. 2022. (Photo: WVR/Van Chi)

Citing the promising number of 27,000 Indian tourists to Vietnam in November 2022 alone, 50% higher than the same period in 2019, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong affirmed that India is becoming an important and potential market for Vietnam's tourism thanks to active tourism promotion activities, connecting and expanding direct flights between major cities of the two countries.

On the other hand, according to Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai, India is also a favorite destination for more and more Vietnamese tourists to experience and enjoy interesting activities such as meditation, yoga,ect. Leh-Ladakh, Kashmir, Jaipur, Rishikesh... are becoming destinations that attract the attention of many tourist groups in Vietnam.

Vietnam Days Abroad” is an annual national promotion programme chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2010. This is the second time the ministry has chosen India as the destination of the programme series, after the first in 2018.