Vietnamese Ao Dai Displayed in the Heart of Russia
WVR - On the afternoon of July 30 (local time), as part of her working trip to Russia, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary To Lam, met with Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova and attended the opening of the Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition at the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow, Russia.
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| The State Museum of Oriental Art welcomes Madame Ngo Phuong Ly to the opening of the Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
During the meeting, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her pleasure in meeting Minister Lyubimova and thanked her personally, as well as the Russian Ministry of Culture, for supporting events held in Russia to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Emphasizing that culture always plays an important role in connecting people and nations, Madame Ly was deeply moved by the Russian public’s love for Vietnamese culture, as reflected by the long queues of people entering the Vietnam Cultural Festival venue on Red Square following its opening on July 25.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary To Lam, meets Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Russian Minister Olga Lyubimova warmly welcomed Madam Ngo Phuong Ly, who led the Vietnamese delegation to participate in cultural diplomacy activities in Russia on this occasion, affirming that cultural cooperation plays a vital role in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
Praising the significance of the Vietnam Cultural Festival on Red Square, the Russian Minister expressed hope that more similar activities would be held in other Russian localities and at other times of the year. Extending a warm invitation to Madam Ly to visit and participate in future cultural diplomacy activities, the Minister affirmed that Russia always welcomes the spouse of General Secretary To Lam and Vietnamese partners.
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| The Vietnam Cultural Festival on Red Square was warmly received by Russians and international friends in Russia. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Welcoming the ideas and proposals from the Russian side, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her hope that Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Russia’s Ministry of Culture will continue strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through practical cooperation such as artist training and exchanges; organizing exhibitions and film weeks in both countries; and hosting performing arts programs.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and Russian Minister Olga Lyubimova attend the opening and tour the Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition “Beauty Behind the Splendor: Vietnamese Lacquer Paintings”. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Also on the afternoon of July 30, at the State Museum of Oriental Art, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and Russian Minister Olga Lyubimova attended the opening of the Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition themed “Beauty Behind the Splendor: Vietnamese Lacquer Paintings”.
Running from July 30 to September 14, 2025, the exhibition features nearly the entire collection of Vietnamese lacquer paintings owned by the museum, showcasing works by renowned artists such as Le Quoc Loc, Pham Hau, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Pham Van Don, Nguyen Trong Kiem, Tran Dinh Tho, Linh Chi, Duong Bich Lien, Hoang Tich Tru, and others.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly said the exhibition is not only a cultural event but also a bridge for artistic exchange between the peoples of Vietnam and Russia. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Speaking at the opening, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that the event carries great meaning—not only culturally, but also as a vivid symbol of friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Russia.
She affirmed that lacquer painting is a distinctive traditional art form of Vietnam; it is the result of meticulous artistic labour that requires patience, masterful skill, and the very soul of the artist. “Today’s exhibition is not only a cultural event but also a bridge for artistic exchange between the Vietnamese and Russian peoples”, she stressed.
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| Lacquer painting is a distinctive traditional Vietnamese art form; it is the result of meticulous artistic labour requiring patience, masterful skill, and the artist’s soul. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Expressing gratitude to Madam Ngo Phuong Ly for attending the opening, the Director of the State Museum of Oriental Art affirmed that this is the largest Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition ever held at the museum, reflecting the richness and uniqueness of Vietnamese culture.
Curator Legostaeva Albina highlighted the efforts and creativity of the artists from the Indochina College of Fine Arts which was founded 100 years ago in Vietnam, noting how the cultural exchange between East and West gave birth to unique and highly aesthetic works of art.
Both the Museum Director and the Exhibition Curator expressed hope that this event would leave an unforgettable impression on visitors by allowing them to discover and gain deeper insight into aspects of Vietnamese culture, thereby promoting greater mutual understanding between Vietnam and Russia.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly graciously presents the State Museum of Oriental Art with several cultural artifacts, including the lacquer painting “Palm Hills” by the late artist Phan Ke An—one of the most prominent painters of 20th-century Vietnamese art. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Cherishing Vietnam’s heritage and wishing to share its cultural beauty with international friends, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly presented the State Museum of Oriental Art with several cultural artifacts, including the lacquer painting “Palm Hills” by the late artist Phan Ke An—one of the leading figures of 20th-century Vietnamese painting. The Museum Director was deeply moved and sincerely thanked Madam Ly, affirming that this gift is truly a precious gem in the Museum’s lacquer painting collection.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and Russian Minister Olga Lyubimova stand beside the traditional Vietnamese ao dai, inspired by Vietnamese bamboo hedges and Russian birch forests, presented to the State Museum of Oriental Art. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Madam Ngo Phuong Ly also presented the museum with a traditional Vietnamese ao dai, inspired by Vietnamese bamboo hedges and Russian birch forests. When birch motifs are portrayed on the ao dai, the two cultures appear to merge into one: the gentle soul of Vietnam and the pure, steadfast beauty of Russia.
“This is a small gift, but I hope that this traditional Vietnamese ao dai will become part of the Vietnamese cultural collection at the State Museum of Oriental Art, and above all, a delicate emblem of the sincere, close, and enduring friendship between our two peoples”, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly expressed.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly tours the exhibition. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Following the opening ceremony, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly and the delegation toured all the exhibition spaces showcasing Vietnamese lacquer paintings. On this occasion, Madam Ly also presented and introduced cultural artifacts of her own design to the Russian Minister of Culture, the Museum Director, and the Exhibition Curator.
