Vietnam Days in India 2022: A half century buiding up traditional friendship

Vietnam and India have supported each other during their struggle for independence and national liberation since the early twentieth century. Over half a century, Vietnam and India elevated their diplomatic relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, cooperating extensively and effectively in different fields, bringing about achievements and mutual interests for the people of the two countries.

Taking place in New Delhi (India), Vietnam Days in India 2022 contributes to introducing the unique features of Vietnamese people and culture to the public in India, consolidating traditional friendship, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, trade, and tourism between the two countries.

The program is honored to have the presence of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to India Nguyen Thanh Hai, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, Union Minister of State for External Affairs of India Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, Deputy Director of Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dao Quyen Truong, and representatives of ministries, departments, diplomatic corps and local and international friends in India.

Special art performance to spotlight Vietnam - India cultural interference

In practice, Vietnam and India have shared a century-long history and cultural similarities even though the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972. Vietnam - India cultural interference originated from the 5th to the 3rd centuries BC, reflecting in such fields as architecture, art, religion, etc.

Magical Night Art Performance offers the public opportunity to learn about Viet Nam - India cultural connection. (Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in India)

One such highly sophisticated and refined civilization, which has a historical civilizational connection with India, is the Champa civilization, also known as the Cham civilization, in Viet Nam. In other words, the Cham civilization has brought unique elements of Indian culture closer to the Vietnamese.

Under the framework of Vietnam Days in India 2022, Magical Night Art Performance offers the public opportunity to learn about Viet Nam - India cultural connection. Some notable art performances such as Cham Dance, Tac Xinh (San Chay community), Then singing (Tay, Nung, Thai people), Lon Sluong (Nung ethnic group), Lon Coi (Tay ethnic group), and impressive monochord solo Indian Dance spotlighted Vietnamese culture in the eyes of the public in India.

The program bring together artists from the Viet Bac Folk and Dance Theater, including People's Artist Quang Vinh, Manh Tien, Duong Men, Pham Tinh, Do Nhuan, Nong Viet Toai, People's Artist Le Khinh, People's Artist Kim Chung, Meritorious Artist Ba Thai, Ha Tu Thien, Meritorious Artist Minh Hue, Hong Hat, etc.

Speaking at the program, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong shared: “This art performance is a vivid demonstration of the cultural exchange between Viet Nam and India. At the program, audiences in India have the opportunity to enjoy the unique ethnic art forms of Viet Nam, including those that have been recognized as UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. I believe this meaningful cultural event will contribute to consolidating and further promoting the friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and India”.

Golden opportunity to boost Vietnam - India tourism cooperation

India is an important and potential market for Vietnam's tourism industry. After the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam opened up to international tourism and witnessed an increasing number of Indian tourists. According to the General Statistics Office, in November 2022, Vietvam welcomed 27,000 tourists from India, an increase of 31% over the previous month and 50% higher than in the same period in 2019.

Generally, for the first 11 months of 2022, the total number of Indian tourists to Vietnam reached 109,000, ranking 5th out of the ten international tourist markets to Vietnam.

According to the General Statistics Office, in November 2022, Vietnam welcomed 27,000 tourists from India. (Photo: Saigondautu.com.vn)

Within the framework of Vietnam Days in India 2022, Vietnam Tourism Promotion Forum in India on December 14 is a meaningful activity, demonstrating the efforts to promote bilateral cooperation between the management agencies and businesses of the two countries, based on the results achieved by the tourism industry.

The forum comprises three main discussion sessions, focusing on introducing the potential of Vietnam’s tourism. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to study the insights of Indian tourists, discuss aviation connections, and promote unique types of tourism that meet the needs of Indian tourists, such as culinary tourism, wedding party tourism, MICE tourism, Golf tourism, resort tourism, and cinema tourism.

Vietnamese Cultural Space

As the highlight of the series Vietnam Days Abroad 2022, Vietnamese Cultural Space continues to introduce the unique features of Vietnamese culture, making them available and accessible to international friends. The public in India had the chance to experience Vietnamese folk art forms such as Dong Ho folk painting art, To he molding art, and performances of ethnic musical instruments.

In addition, Vietnamese Cultural Space also provides participants with an opportunity to learn about the beauty of Vietnamese people and their daily lives through the Vietnam Vitality exhibition. The exhibition features outstanding books, photos, and magazines, especially those about President Ho Chi Minh, successfully showcasing the image of a vibrant, rich in culture, and promising Vietnam.

In particular, Vietnamese lacquer art is presented in different forms, including lacquer painting performances by artist Tran Anh Tuan - Lecturer of Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, an exhibition of engraved lacquer paintings recreating the folk paintings of Hang Trong, Dong Ho, and Kim Hoang by Latoa - a group of artists devoted to preserving traditional materials and values.

India has long been well-known as one of the leading countries in the world in the fields of technological innovation, outsourcing, high-tech services, etc. Therefore, for the last activity of this year’s series, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has collaborated with partners to bring to the Indian public the opportunity to experience Vietnamese culture through a unique form - the 3D digital exhibition on Vietnamese lacquer art and the video game Lac Viet Adventures.

In addition, participants also have an opportunity to discover the Vietnamese culinary culture by enjoying famous dishes prepared by the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Delhi and chefs of Vietnamese restaurants in New Delhi.

Performing arts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Days in India 2022 is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO Affairs), Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Vietnamese Embassy in India, and other partners, including Mark&B, Le Bros Group, and sponsors such as Vietjet (the official air transportation sponsor of the Program) and Coca-Cola Vietnam.

It is the second time the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has chosen India as the destination for the series of Vietnam Days Abroad Programs. Previously, Vietnam Days in India was first held in early March 2018 on the occasion of the bilateral visit of former President Tran Dai Quang to India.

Vietnam Days Abroad is an annual national promotion program, assigned by the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2010. The program usually takes place on the sidelines of Vietnamese high-level Leaders’ official visits to other countries, on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations, receiving positive responses from localities, businesses, agencies, organizations, international friends, and overseas Vietnamese.