Vietnam’s Party chief, spouse enjoy tea, traditional art performances in S.Korea

Following the official welcome ceremony for Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and the Vietnamese delegation on Monday, First Lady Kim Hye Kyung invited Madame Ngo Phuong Ly to a tea party and a tour of the National Museum of Korea, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Madame Ly expressed her pleasure in visiting South Korea and having the opportunity to engage in a warm and friendly exchange with First Lady Kim.

She sincerely thanked President Lee, First Lady Kim, and the South Korean government and people for their gracious, respectful, and thoughtful reception of the Vietnamese delegation.

Impressed by the beauty of South Korea and the warmth and hospitality of its people, Madame Ly expressed her desire for continued strong development of the friendship between the two nations and peoples.

Both Madame Ngo Ly and First Lady Kim emphasized the deep historical and cultural heritage of their countries and highlighted the cultural similarities between Vietnam and South Korea as a foundation for strengthening people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation in various fields.

They agreed on the critical importance of cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy in building a strong social foundation for Vietnam–South Korea relations.

Madame Ly congratulated South Korea on its achievements in building and developing its cultural industries, which have helped promote South Korean cultural values globally.

She affirmed that Vietnam possesses favorable conditions to develop a modern and advanced cultural industry with a strong national identity.

She expressed hope for South Korea to share its experience and strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in this field, particularly in the transfer of technologies for music, film, fashion production, and the application of advanced science and technology to creating cultural products and protecting intellectual property rights.

She also expressed appreciation and hope that the South Korean government would continue to support and create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in South Korea, especially women, to integrate well into the society and contribute positively to bilateral relations.

First Lady Kim conveyed her empathy and appreciation for the efforts of Vietnamese women, particularly brides, in adapting to life in South Korea and gradually contributing to the country’s development.

She affirmed that South Korea would continue implementing effective support policies to help multicultural Vietnamese–South Korean families settle down, enabling the younger generation to grow up with pride in both cultures and become special bridges of friendship between the two countries.

She also shared that both she and the South Korean president are fond of Vietnamese cuisine, particularly dishes like banh mi (Vietnamese baguette), bun cha (rice vermicelli with grilled pork and meatballs), and banh xeo (Vietnamese sizzling cake).

During the tour of the National Museum of Korea, Madame Ly expressed her admiration for how the museum preserves and presents the cultural and historical depth of South Korea in a refined and emotionally resonant manner.

She noted that the visit was a valuable opportunity to experience the cultural similarities and profound exchanges between Vietnam and South Korea.

She thanked First Lady Kim for thoughtfully arranging meaningful activities that allowed her and the Vietnamese delegation to gain deeper insights into South Korean culture.

She also expressed her hope to welcome the First Lady Kim to Vietnam soon to experience first-hand the unique features of Vietnamese culture.