 Diplomatic families in Ho Chi Minh City celebrate Vietnamese Tet (Photo: Ngoc Xuan/ VOV-Ho Chi Minh City) |
They participated in a variety of traditional Vietnamese cultural activities, such as visits to apricot blossom gardens, the Ao Dai Museum, making traditional cakes, writing calligraphy, and enjoying traditional music performances.
Pang Te Cheng, Consul General of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “I'm very happy to join the tour today. First we went to the Mai garden, and then we came to the Ao Dai Museum. It is a very unique museum set in a very nice garden. Very interesting to learn about the history of the ao dai. I didn’t know that there are northern and southern styles of the ao dai, and different historical periods of ao dai design. It is a very enriching cultural experience, and I’m deeply impressed by the creativity of ao dai designers over the years.”
Firdauz Othman, Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “I find that the people here are very welcoming, warm, and hospitable. When they see a foreigner from Malaysia wearing an ao dai, they become very delighted. This is what I call cultural exchange. In Malaysia, we also embrace other cultures, so I feel very much at home here in Vietnam. This is my third year serving as Consul General in Vietnam, and I truly feel that this has become my second home.”
 Alexandra Smith, Consul General of the United Kingdom in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Ngoc Xuan/ VOV-Ho Chi Minh City) |
Alexandra Smith, Consul General of the United Kingdom in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “The people and culture of Vietnam are truly amazing and something I love learning about now that I live in Ho Chi Minh City. I find that Vietnamese people are very open in sharing and explaining their culture, so I learn something new every day. The British Consulate General is seeking to further strengthen cultural ties with Ho Chi Minh City. Just last week, we launched a partnership between Liverpool City and Ho Chi Minh City, which provides another opportunity to deepen our bilateral relationship.”
The organizers paid special attention to children of diplomatic families, the future “young ambassadors”, who will help spread impressions of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City to international friends.