Ambassador of Lao in Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang lights a candle on the top of the Khoan tray, one of the rituals of the Bunpimay festival of the people of Laos. Photo: Tuan Viet

The Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations (HAUFO) coordinated with the embassies of seven countries on the evening of April 21 to organize a friendship exchange program to celebrate the traditional New Year of India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka in Hanoi.

Attending the program were nearly 200 delegates who are leaders of HAUFO; a number of departments, divisions, branches and mass organizations of Hanoi; Central and Hanoi's Friendship Associations with India, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka; ambassadors, representatives of embassies, business community, and international students.

The delegates performed traditional rituals of different countries such as Buddha bathing ceremony, water splashing for good luck, wrist thread tying ceremony and Holi festival.

The friendship exchange program has brought the traditional new year atmosphere to the officials, students and people of India, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka who are working and living in Vietnam and at the same time helping the people of Hanoi better understand the traditional culture of neighboring countries.

HAUFO Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Ky spoke at the ceremony. Photo: Tuan Viet

On behalf of the leaders and people of the capital, HAUFO Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Ky sent international friends wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.

He hoped that the peace and friendship activities organized by HAUFO would contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and tightening the solidarity between the people of Vietnam, the people of Hanoi capital and the people of other countries, as well as the people of Asian countries.

"Hopefully, Hanoi will be a common home of friendship that always opens the door to welcome international friends," said HAUFO Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Ky.

On behalf of international friends, Ambassador of Lao in Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang expressed his thanks to HAUFO for organizing this meaningful activity.

He was pleased to see that in recent years, the friendly relationship and cooperation between Hanoi in general as well as HAUFO in particular and the diplomatic corps has been continuously consolidated and developed.

On this occasion, Ambassador Houngboungnuang introduced to the delegates about the traditional Bunpimay festival of Laos with the meaning of dispelling bad things and wishing each other a happy new year, and peace and prosperity for each country.

Participants in the ceremony bathe the Buddha statue, a ritual of the traditional New Year festival of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. Photo: Tuan Viet

Sharing with Thoi Dai (Vietnam Times) Magazine, 20-year-old Chav Channy from Cambodia said, "Celebrating Chol Chnam Thmay in Hanoi makes me feel like I'm living in the atmosphere of the traditional New Year's Day in my homeland. I'm excited to sing and dance the country's songs, introducing to the delegates and friends the culture and customs of Cambodia".

As for Latsamy, a 17-year-old Laotian student, studying at Friendship School 80, this is his first time celebrating Tet away from home. "Although I can't return to my hometown to celebrate the traditional New Year with my family and relatives, in return I can still celebrate the Bunpimay traditional New Year of the nation in Hanoi, where I am studying. I feel like This is also an opportunity for me to discover the traditional New Year customs of other countries and expand relationships with friends from other countries," Latsamy shared.

Earlier, on April 14 the traditional New Year festivals of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar - Bunpimay, Songkran, Chol Chhnam Thmay, and Thingyang - were celebrated at a ceremony at Pho Minh Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City.

The event was jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) and the International Department of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha's Chapter in the city.

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