General Secretary, President To Lam's spouse and RoK President Lee Jae Myung's spouse visit Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
WVR - On the morning of April 23, as part of a state visit to Vietnam, Madame Kim Hye Kyung, the spouse of Republic of Korea (RoK) President Lee Jae Myung, accompanied Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, the spouse of General Secretary, President To Lam, to visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
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| Welcoming Madame. Kim Hye Kyung at the Museum, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her delight at meeting Madame Kim Hye Kyung again; she was touched that the spouse of the Republic of Korea President wore the traditional Vietnamese ao dai—a gift from Madame Ngo Phuong Ly—for the reunion. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
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| In an elegant ao dai, Madame Kim Hye Kyung expressed her thanks to Vietnam and Madame Ngo Phuong Ly for the warm, sincere, and respectful reception extended to the Republic of Korea delegation and herself. |
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| Madame Kim Hye Kyung shared her fondness for the ao dai gifted by Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, as it embodies the traditional beauty of Vietnamese women and is well-suited for today's cultural diplomacy activities. |
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| In a warm and friendly atmosphere at the Bronze Drum Hall, the two spouses listened to a brief introduction about the community of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, highlighting the unique cultural beauty of the ethnic groups across the North, Central, and South regions. |
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| The Vietnamese "len dong" ritual, a representative ceremony in the Mother Goddess worship belief, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, was introduced to the two spouses, drawing parallels with the "Kut" ritual in the Shaman belief of the Republic of Korea. |
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| While visiting the stilt house of the Thai people and the weaving space of the Hmong people, the two spouses expressed interest and admiration for the skilled hands that crafted the houses and the vibrant yet delicate skirts. Mrs. Kim Hye Kyung shared that the thatched roofs reminded her of the rural areas of the Republic of Korea, where similar houses exist. |
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| At the Kite Hall, Madame Kim Hye Kyung expressed surprise and particular delight upon learning about the "Korean Room" there, a vivid symbol of cultural cooperation between the two countries. It showcases the traditional Korean house (hanok), some traditional festivals, and the modern life of the Republic of Korea people today. Madame Ngo Phuong Ly shared that many Koreans in Vietnam feel deeply moved when visiting this space, as if returning to their homeland. |
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| Expressing gratitude to Madame Ngo Phuong Ly for choosing such a meaningful meeting point, Mradane Kim Hye Kyung appreciated Vietnam's efforts in vividly recreating the cultural beauty of the Republic of Korea, from traditional houses to modern spaces and essential dishes in Korean family meals at the Museum. The wife of the Republic of Korea President shared that this is a vivid testament to the strong and enduring friendship between the two countries and peoples. |
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| Stopping in front of a screen showing a film illustrated by a Korean artist based on Vietnamese water puppetry "Phieu hai nhat luc", which tells the story of 24 Koreans drifting to Hoi An, Vietnam over 300 years ago, the two wives shared deep feelings about the long-standing relationship between the two nations. They emphasized the importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges that have contributed to the connection between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea. |
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| Leaving the exhibition space, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and Madame Kim Hye Kyung sat down for a chat over tea, enjoying some traditional cakes and Vietnamese water puppet performances. Expressing gratitude to the artists, the two wives presented flowers and experienced puppet manipulation. |
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| Impressed by the water puppet performances, Mrs. Kim Hye Kyung expressed her desire for this art form to soon reach the Republic of Korea, helping the Korean public to appreciate and understand more about the depth of Vietnamese culture. Madame Ngo Phuong Ly thanked the spouse of the Republic of Korea President, expressing hope that in the future, not only will there be tours by Vietnamese and Korean artists in each country, but also expanded cooperation in the cultural industry, a field where the Republic of Korea excels and Vietnam is eager to develop. |
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| The meeting at the Museum concluded with heartfelt embraces and a profound impression of the cultural convergence and similarities between the two countries. This was not just a diplomatic activity within the framework of a state visit but also emphasized the excellent diplomatic relations between the two nations, affirming that culture is a strong bridge, connecting hearts between the people of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea. |
| The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology was established in 1995 and first opened to the public in 1997. Over nearly 30 years, the Museum has welcomed over 500,000 visitors, experts, and scholars annually to explore and research the diversity and uniqueness of the 54 ethnic groups within Vietnam. The Museum currently houses over 30,000 artifacts, with more than 1,600 regularly displayed in the Bronze Drum Hall. In 2006, the Kite Hall was constructed, becoming a regular exhibition space for cultures outside of Vietnam. Alongside the Bronze Drum Hall, the Architecture Garden is an outdoor exhibition area where visitors can vividly experience the daily lives of Vietnamese ethnic groups through traditional houses of the Cham, Kinh, Tay, Dao, Hmong, and others. |
