Foreign Consular representatives explore Ho Chi Minh City's rich cultural and historical heritage
On the morning of July 25, Consuls General and representatives of foreign consular missions in Ho Chi Minh City took part in a walking tour of the city's central district, visiting a number of iconic landmarks.
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| Consuls General and representatives from foreign consular missions in Ho Chi Minh City at the city's Post Office. (Source: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs) |
The activity forms part of the programme, "Diplomatic Walking Tours: Where Every Step Tells the City's Story", jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs and Vietravel.
The programme introduces an innovative approach to cultural diplomacy by inviting members of the consular corps and international friends to explore the city on foot, offering first-hand insights into its history, cultural heritage, architecture, and aspirations to become a civilised, modern, compassionate, dynamic, and globally integrated metropolis.
The event was attended by Mr Werner Bardill, Consul General of Switzerland and Head of the Consular Corps in Ho Chi Minh City; Ms Kate Wallace, Consul General of Australia; Mr Tang Li, Consul General of China; Mr Mauricio Alejandro Martinez Duque, Consul General of Cuba; Ms Carolina Tinagon, Consul General of Indonesia; Mr Jung Jung Tae, Consul General of the Republic of Korea; Mr Fridauz Bin Othman, Consul General of Malaysia; Ms Querobine Deapera Laccay, Consul General of the Philippines; Mr Antonio Bonomo, Acting Consul General of Italy; together with representatives of the Consulates General of Belarus, Hungary, Laos, Russia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries.
Representing the organisers were Mr Pham Dut Diem, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs, and Ms Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Vietravel Corporation, together with representatives of municipal departments and agencies, businesses, business associations, and partner organisations.
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| Ho Chi Minh City aims to create more intimate experiences for international friends to understand the city's history and culture better. (Source: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs) |
In his opening remarks, Mr Pham Dut Diem emphasised that, alongside official diplomatic engagements, Ho Chi Minh City seeks to create more immersive experiences that enable international friends to gain a deeper understanding of the city's history, culture, hospitality, and open investment and cooperation environment—where every landmark and every street corner tells the story of its journey towards becoming a dynamic, creative, and globally connected metropolis.
The delegation visited a number of the city's iconic landmarks, including the exterior of the Reunification Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, the Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office, the Municipal Theatre, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee headquarters, and Bach Dang Wharf Park.
At the Ho Chi Minh City Central Post Office, delegates wrote and mailed handwritten postcards conveying their warm greetings to family and friends abroad, creating meaningful connections between Ho Chi Minh City and the wider world.
At Bach Dang Wharf Park, the delegation paused at the ASEAN Flagpole and the Friendship Symbol, which embody the city's spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and international integration. The journey concluded at Trung Nguyen Legend (68 Nguyen Hue Street), where participants experienced Vietnam's distinctive coffee culture.
The inaugural "Diplomatic Walking Tours" programme marks the beginning of Ho Chi Minh City's broader efforts to diversify its cultural diplomacy initiatives and bring the image of a civilised, modern, compassionate, and culturally vibrant city closer to the international community.
Some images from the inaugural edition of "Diplomatic Walking Tours":
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