Earlier this year, Ba Ria - Vung Tau authorities hosted a traditional New Year greeting ceremony for Lao, Cambodian and Thai people. Ceremonies like these are no longer strange to the expat community living in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Cultural performances and cuisine are featured during festivals and exchange programs to help people understand the culture of countries and warm the heart of expats, who have these words to say:
"I’m very happy living here because the province always organizes a ceremony for us to welcome our traditional New Year, which is very similar to how we celebrate at home in Laos."
"I’m very happy to celebrate our traditional New Year here, and I’ve met many Vietnamese and Cambodian friends."
"This event is very meaningful and important. It helps to develop and promote cultural exchanges."
Many cultural exchange activities for pupils and students of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and its partners are organized such as student exchanges with the Republic of Korea, Japan, France, and Australia and the Bashkortostan Cultural Festival of the Republic of Bashkortostan in Russia.
The province has also held activities to respond to the year of solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos, and a "friendship exchange between Ba Ria - Vung Tau youth and Cambodian students" on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations.
"Celebrations of the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations show the very special sentiment and deep solidarity between the two countries and two peoples. We have seen great achievements by the two countries and developments in all the fields we have fostered together," said Sok Dareth, the Cambodian Consul General.
 Nguyen Thi Yen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Party Committee. (Photo: bariavungtau.com.vn) |
Through people-to-people diplomacy, the Union of Friendship Organizations of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has mobilized funding from foreign organizations and individuals. So far the province has received aid commitments of more than 19.6 million USD to support community healthcare, education programs, social protection, environmental protection, climate change response, agricultural and rural development, and emergency relief.
"People-to-people diplomacy has been strengthened and expanded in our province. Foreign exchange activities to promote culture and art have been productive," said Nguyen Thi Yen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee.
 Kyle Springer, author of the report "Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province: pioneer in economic relations between Australia and Vietnam". (Photo: VOV) |
People-to-people diplomacy has contributed to building a beautiful image of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in the eyes of the international community, including foreign investors.
"Now my report finds that this combination of features and the province’s pro-investment stance makes it a vanguard opportunity for Australia to advance its economic ties with Vietnam," said Kyle Springer, author of the report "Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province: pioneer in economic relations between Australia and Vietnam."
"These features also make Ba Ria - Vung Tau one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment in Vietnam. And at the time when Australia is seeking to diversify its trade and investment partnership with growing economies such as Vietnam, Ba Ria - Vung Tau is an ideal focal point to concentrate our diversification effort," said Springer.
People-to- people diplomacy has been expanded extensively, helping Ba Ria - Vung Tau to enhance friendship and international cooperation and promote the image of a dynamic and integrated province.