Hanoi (VNA)♉ – A series of activities promoting Vietnamese traditional costumes, cuisine, music, and arts will take place in South Africa within the framework of "Vietnamese Day Abroad 2023" in the middle of September.

That is the first time the " Vietnam Day Abroad" to be held in South Africa, aiming to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Africa (December 22, 1993 - December 22, 2023). At a press conference held on September 8, the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the event will take place in South Africa’s capital of Pretoria from September 14-15, 2023. During the event, activities will be organised such as Vietnam Cultural Space, art performance, the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and a Vietnam-South Africa Business Forum. After South Africa, " Vietnam Day Abroad 2023" will be held in France and Japan in November and December, respectively, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and these two countries. Hoang Huu Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Diplomacy & UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the Vietnam Days Abroad, as usual, consist of political, cultural and economic activities. This year, the organising committee has tailored the programme according to each country, he said. The programme aims at delivering a rich in culture yet dynamic Vietnam to friends in South Africa, where the two sides can further promote cultural exchange, and in Japan and France – the two nations that are ‘somewhat’ familiar to Vietnamese people, he said. In addition, within the framework of the " Vietnam Day Abroad 2023", there will be seminars and forums to promote the economy, trade and investment, art performance programmes, and interactive exchanges that feature Vietnamese culture, notably the Vietnamese Cultural Space with the theme "Origins, Vitality and Continuity."

This year, Vietnam Cultural Space brings together many young artisans and cultural practitioners, offering highly interactive and experiential activities such as making lacquer paintings and Dong Ho folk paintings, and making “To Heﷺ” - small and colourful toy figurines that are made of rice dough.

Visitors to the event can try on the royal costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) and explore Vietnamese cuisine. Lacquer artist Tran Anh Tuan said that he is excited about participating in the event and showing visitors Vietnamese lacquer art. “I choose small and beautiful items such as souvenirs and lacquered jewelry to instruct visitors how to make them. They can give the finished items to relatives and friends and once again tell the story of Vietnamese culture,” Tuan said. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Cultural Space also includes photo exhibitions about diplomatic relations, heritage, the country, and the people of Vietnam, thereby presenting the image of a friendly, rich-identified Vietnam to international friends. Nguyen Yen, Director of Dong Do Performance and Event Services – the show producer, has revealed that the repertoire has been staged to connect, aiming to tell a storyline called ‘Colour of Vietnam’. “The ‘colours’ differentiate in each region and will be presented in the form of the UNESCO-recognised intangible heritages,” she said. Yen said the show will be opened with a traditional dance of an ethnic Mong group from the northern mountainous region, followed by the lotus dance – a dance representing the Northern Delta region. The show will include a showcase of the royal costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty that represents the central region. Traditional tunes and popular dances of the South will be presented. With new elements, " Vietnam Day Abroad 2023" is expected to create distinct highlights of the Vietnamese culture. "Vietnam Day Abroad" is a national promotional programme that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organised since yearly since 2010. The programme has received widespread participation and response from localities, businesses, agencies, organisations, international friends, and Vietnamese communities abroad./.