Spouse of General Secretary visits Dongbu Seoul Nursing Home and Vietnam–RoK Multicultural Families
WVR - As part of the State visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, visited the Dongbu Seoul Nursing Home, met with Vietnam–RoK multicultural families, and participated in cultural exchange activities.
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| Spouse of the General Secretary, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, visits Dongbu Seoul Nursing Home, Republic of Korea. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
At the Dongbu Seoul Nursing Home, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her pleasure in visiting one of RoK’s exemplary facilities in elderly care.
“This is an opportunity for us to directly learn about the practical operations of the centre, as well as to gain insights from Korean experience in elderly healthcare”, said the spouse of the General Secretary.
Given that the RoK is currently among the countries with the fastest aging populations in the world, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized the crucial role of nursing centres such as Dongbu.
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| MadameNgo Phuong Ly presents gifts to elderly residents at Dongbu Seoul Nursing Home. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The Dongbu Seoul Nursing Home covers a total area of about 10,400 square meters, with one basement level and five above-ground floors, accommodating about 232 beds. The centre employs three doctors, 23 nurses, and about 7–9 volunteers providing long-term care services, medical treatment, therapy, and daily living assistance such as personal hygiene care and physical rehabilitation — restoring, training, and maintaining mobility for elderly people in need.
After being briefed on the facilities and operations of the centre, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her appreciation for its psychological therapy programs, cultural activities and community engagement efforts.
“These activities not only help the elderly maintain both physical and mental health but also demonstrate that old age does not mean loneliness or passivity — it can still be a time for active, meaningful living if given proper conditions and attention”, she affirmed.
Currently, although Vietnam remains in its “golden population period”, the country is facing rapid population aging and declining birth rates. While most elderly in Vietnam still live with their families, the demand for professional care facilities is increasing. For this reason, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly hoped that the RoK would continue sharing experience in this field so that Vietnam could apply suitable practices.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly visits Vietnam–RoK multicultural families, including the family of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Van and her husband, Mr. Kim Jung Ung. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
During her visit, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly met with Vietnam–RoK multicultural families, including the family of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Van and her husband, Mr. Kim Jung Ung.
The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere at the young couple’s home, where they live with the husband’s mother in central Seoul.
Madame Ngo Phuong Ly kindly inquired about the couple’s life and work. She noted that during her meeting with Mrs. Kim Hye Kyung, the Korean side expressed understanding and appreciation for the efforts of Vietnamese brides to integrate into Korean society and contribute to its development. They also affirmed their commitment to continuing support policies for Vietnam–RoK multicultural families so that they can build stable lives, raise younger generations proud of both cultures, and serve as special bridges of friendship between the two countries.
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| The meeting took place at the home of Mrs. Van and her husband. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her hope that Vietnamese people, wherever they are, would live well and promote the beauty of their homeland to international friends.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Van said she was deeply moved to welcome Madame Ngo Phuong Ly to her home and shared with the spouse of the General Secretary and the Vietnamese delegation about her current life as well as future plans. She noted that although living far from her homeland, she always follows news about Vietnam, and witnessing its development makes her even more proud and joyful.
As part of her activities, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, together with Madame Shin Kyung Hye, spouse of the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, visited the National Assembly Museum. Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her admiration for how the museum vividly recreates the nation’s heroic history, democratic spirit, and the steadfast will of the Korean people.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly with Madame Shin Kyung Hye, spouse of the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly, visit the National Assembly Museum. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The two spouses discussed cultural similarities and unique aspects of Vietnam and the RoK, noting that vibrant cultural and people-to-people exchanges in recent years have played an important role in fostering understanding and strengthening friendship between the peoples of the two nations.
Earlier, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly received Mr. Jeong Samuel Chung, President of the Korean Cultural Association. During the meeting, the two sides shared many cultural similarities, and Madame Ngo Phuong Ly tried on a hanbok and participated in decorating mother-of-pearl inlay products — a traditional Korean art form with many similarities to Vietnamese craftsmanship.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly with Mr. Jeong Samuel Chung, President of the Korean Cultural Association, experience mother-of-pearl inlay decoration. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
In Busan, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly visited Haedong Yonggungsa Temple — located along the eastern seashore of the city where mountains meet the ocean. Seen from the mainland, the temple appears to “hang” on a cliff, standing out against the vast blue sea, creating a scene reminiscent of a natural painting. She also visited Arte Museum Busan, an immersive media art museum in the port city.
