The program was held to mark the 81st anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2026), the 59th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967 - August 8, 2026), and the 31st anniversary of Vietnam’s official accession to ASEAN (July 28, 1995 - July 28, 2026).

Attending the program were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thi Hoang Van; representatives of central agencies and the Hanoi municipal authorities; leaders of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations and its member organizations; representatives of friendship organizations from several provinces and cities; as well as ambassadors, chargé d’affaires and representatives of diplomatic missions of ASEAN countries and several other countries and international organizations in Vietnam.

The 2026 “Colors of ASEAN Culture” Friendship Exchange Program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In her opening remarks, Nguyen Ngoc Ky, President of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, said the 2026 “Colors of ASEAN Culture” program is a key people-to-people diplomacy activity of Hanoi to commemorate important milestones of Vietnam and ASEAN.

Looking back at nearly six decades of ASEAN’s formation and development, Nguyen Ngoc Ky highlighted the achievements of a united, resilient and cohesive community. He said that, alongside institutions and cooperation agreements, cultural exchanges and people-to-people diplomacy serve as important threads connecting the community and directing cooperation efforts toward prosperity, security and happiness for the people of the region.

For Vietnam, 31 years of accompanying ASEAN has been a process of proactive, active and responsible engagement. Joining ASEAN in 1995 opened a new period of extensive international integration for the country. Vietnam has always regarded ASEAN as a common family and one of the priorities of its foreign policy.

Alongside the country’s development, Hanoi has actively promoted its role as a bridge, fostering friendship and cooperation between the people of the capital and the peoples of ASEAN countries and international friends.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Ky, Hanoi - the “City for Peace,” “Creative City” and “Global Learning City” - is not only the national center but also aspires to project an image of a safe, open and hospitable destination rich in cultural identity. In its new development phase, Hanoi is mobilizing resources to build a “Cultured - Civilized - Modern - Happy” capital while attaching importance to cooperation and support from ASEAN member states and international friends.

The Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations affirmed that it will continue to strengthen its role as a bridge, coordinating with ASEAN embassies and international organizations to organize people-to-people exchanges and cultural, educational and economic cooperation activities. These efforts will contribute to nurturing solidarity and friendship between the people of Hanoi and ASEAN friends.

Speaking at the program, Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III highly appreciated the initiative of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations in organizing the 2026 “ASEAN Cultural Colors” Friendship Exchange Program.

Sharing his experiences since beginning his tenure in Hanoi in January 2026, Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III said he had observed many similarities in dances, traditional attire, musical instruments and customs among ethnic communities across ASEAN countries.

According to the Ambassador, these similarities demonstrate that Southeast Asian peoples share many cultural ties, while each country retains its own unique and distinctive characteristics. This cultural diversity can serve as a resource for promoting cooperation and enhancing the attractiveness and strength of the ASEAN Community.

The Ambassador likened the connections among ASEAN cultures to a symphony orchestra: each instrument and musician has its own identity, but together they can create a harmonious whole. Similarly, songs and dances bearing the distinctive imprints of individual countries, when presented together in a shared artistic space, demonstrate the connecting power of culture and the arts.

Delegates visit the exhibition space at the program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

At the program, delegates visited an exhibition featuring products made from traditional textiles of ASEAN countries, including silk, brocade and batik. The exhibition also featured lotus silk products created by Meritorious Artisan Phan Thi Thuan. The event space also showcased several distinctive OCOP products from Hanoi, highlighting an image of the capital that combines the preservation of traditional values with creativity in modern life.

A highlight of the program was a series of artistic performances showcasing the cultural identities of various ASEAN countries. In addition to the performances “My Homeland Vietnam” and “A Tour of Vietnam” by artists from the Sen Viet UNESCO Art Troupe, the program featured the traditional Philippine dance “Cannosa,” Cambodia’s “Ror Bam Sa Hak Sa Mai,” Myanmar’s “Thingyan Moe,” “Tari Dayak” from East Kalimantan, Indonesia, “Welcome to Laos,” and “Let Us Move Ahead.”

A performance at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

A performance at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

An exhibition space at the program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Through cultural, artistic and culinary experiences, as well as traditional products, the 2026 “Colors of ASEAN Culture” Friendship Exchange Program created additional spaces for people from different countries to meet and interact, thereby promoting greater understanding, closer bonds and friendship within the ASEAN Community.

Vietnamese Cultural Day Brings the Community Together in Germany On August 2, the Vietnamese Students' Association in Hamburg organised Vietnam Culture Day 2026 in the northern German city of Hamburg, creating a space for community connection while showcasing the distinctive features of Vietnamese culture, arts and cuisine to local residents and international friends.

45 Japanese Students Visit Hanoi to Experience Vietnam’s Culture On the afternoon of August 4, the Department of Education and Training of Hanoi welcomed a delegation of teachers and students from high schools in Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture coming to study and learn about Vietnam’s culture, customs, and traditions.