US Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink releases carps at Kim Lien pagoda on Kitchen Gods ceremony (Photo: VNA) For US Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink, it is the fourth year he has celebrated Tet in Vietnam. He said Tet is a special time when everyone is happy, when we slow down and spend time with families and friends.
Every year, heparticipates in Tet activities such as wrapping Chung cake (square glutinousrice cake), visiting peach blossom gardens and visiting pagodas.
He said the Tet of the Year of the Buffalo will be special for himas this year may be the last in his working term as the US Ambassador to Vietnam.
Regarding the US-Vietnam relations, he expressed his delightthat the two countries were able to find cooperation opportunities in 2020 amid theCOVID-19 pandemic. The US granted over 13 million USD and 100 ventilators tohelp Vietnam’s fight against the pandemic, while Vietnam presented millions offace masks and medical supplies to the US.
The year 2020 also marked the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, he stated, adding that collaborationin security, defence, trade, people-to-people exchanges and health has enjoyedprogress.
Optimistic about the two nations’ common future, thediplomat showed his belief that the US and Vietnam will continue building anddeepening mutual trust and respect, promoting trade and people-to-peopleexchanges, and completing underway cooperation works.
Meanwhile, French Ambassador Nicolas Warnery shared that he first had a chance to experience Vietnam’s Tet festival 15 years ago, when he assumedthe position as French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to him, Vietnamese Tet is similar to France’syear-end holidays, particularly Christmas Day, as they are an opportunity forfamily gathering.
The diplomat said he plans to get up early on the first day of the Year of the Buffalo and walk around to enjoy the deserted streets, and visit Ngoc Son Temple in Hoan Kiem Lake.
Looking back the past year, the Ambassador spoke highly of Vietnam’s role as the ASEANChair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020 in thecontext of the pandemic. Believing the pandemic will be put under control in 2021, hehopes the two countries will coordinate with each other to further develop thebilateral relations in all fields, such as economics, culture and health.
During his working term, he expressed his wish to bolsterthe France-Vietnam strategic partnership, tighten political ties, speed upprojects in health, culture, higher education, climate change response andenvironmental protection.
Robin Bednall, First Secretary in charge of economic and development cooperation at the Australia Embassy in Vietnam, also thinks that Vietnamese Tet is similar to Australia’s Noel, as family members often gather on these occasions. He said that Tet is unique and meaningful, so Vietnamese people should be proud of their traditional festival and maintain the unique cultural identity./.
During his working term, he expressed his wish to bolsterthe France-Vietnam strategic partnership, tighten political ties, speed upprojects in health, culture, higher education, climate change response andenvironmental protection.
Robin Bednall, First Secretary in charge of economic and development cooperation at the Australia Embassy in Vietnam, also thinks that Vietnamese Tet is similar to Australia’s Noel, as family members often gather on these occasions. He said that Tet is unique and meaningful, so Vietnamese people should be proud of their traditional festival and maintain the unique cultural identity./.
VNA
