Vietnam-RoK Cultural Exchange at “Vietnamese Village” in RoK

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On August 24, the “RoK-Vietnam Global Exchange” event took place at Chunghyodang Heritage Site in Bongseong Township, Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, a location that holds the heritage of Vietnam’s royal Ly lineage.

Vietnamese and Korean delegates sign roof tiles for the topping-out ceremony of the Community House in Bonghwa. (Photo: Khanh Van/VNA)

The event was co-organized by Bonghwa County, the Embassy of Vietnam in the RoK, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Vietnamese Ly family in the RoK, aiming to strengthen the foundation of cooperation and exchange between local governments and people of the two countries.

The program included the topping-out ceremony of the Community Center, Vietnam Culture Day, and the unveiling of the statue of King Ly Thai To at the Vietnamese Village space in Bonghwa.

About 800 people attended the event, including Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Ho An Phong; officials from RoK’s Ministry of Culture and North Gyeongsang Province; Mayor of Bonghwa County Park Hyeon Guk; Vietnamese Ambassador to RoK Vu Ho; and Consul General of Vietnam in Busan Doan Phuong Lan.

The event also welcomed representatives of Vietnamese associations, as well as a large number of Vietnamese living, studying, and working in the RoK. Prior activities featured cultural performances by traditional art troupes and the Vietnamese community. The cultural festival aimed to introduce and promote Vietnamese culture and cuisine.

The campaign encouraging Vietnamese women to wear traditional ao dai turned the spacious venue into a true cultural festival, adorned with conical hats and graceful ao dai dresses.

In his opening remarks, Park Hyeon Guk stated that Bonghwa is the homeland of the Ly royal descendants who came to Goryeo, and it has long served as an invisible bridge fostering the friendship between the RoK and Vietnamese peoples. Today’s series of events marks the beginning of a new chapter in cultural exchange between the two nations.

The inauguration of the Community Center and the installation of the King Ly Thai To statue are the first steps toward the ambitious and meaningful vision of creating the K-Vietnam Valley in Bonghwa - a space connecting culture, people, traditions, and the future.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong speaks at the event (Photo: Khanh Van/VNA)

Deputy Minister Ho An Phong noted that this year’s Vietnam Cultural Festival is even more significant as it takes place in Bonghwa - a land closely associated with the Ly family, a sacred symbol of historical exchange and enduring friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and the RoK.

Within the festival framework, the unveiling of the King Ly Thai To statue and the “Vietnamese Village” model opens a new cultural exchange space, attracting not only Korean visitors but also Vietnamese and international tourists.

Thus, this is not only a special cultural-historical event but also a reminder for future generations to remember their roots, honor the contributions of their ancestors, and uphold the glorious traditions of the Ly family.

It is a vivid testament to the harmony between tradition and modernity, the depth of history, and the vitality of the present, contributing to stronger friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and RoK.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho highlighted the deep historical roots of the bilateral relationship. More than 1,000 years ago, Ly Cong Uan, later King Ly Thai To, founded the Ly Dynasty and established Thang Long (now Hanoi). His descendant, Prince Ly Long Tuong, came to the Korean Peninsula over eight centuries ago, forging the first link between the two nations.

The installation ceremony of the statue of King Ly Thai To (Photo: Khanh Van/VNA)

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, Vietnam-RoK relations have flourished, evolving into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two countries cooperate extensively across various fields: politics, security, economy, trade, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges. The King Ly Thai To’s statue in Bonghwa stands as a symbol of trust, friendship, and the shared aspiration for a prosperous future.

The Community Center is located at the heart of the K-Vietnam Valley project. Bonghwa County invested 1.4 billion won (approximately 1 million USD) to build the center on a 370m² site near the Chunghyodang heritage site of the Ly family. The Community House features a unique design inspired by the traditional architecture of both Vietnam and RoK, with red-tiled roofs and arched eaves.

Starting in September 2025, the building will become operational, offering facilities such as conference rooms, lounges, and a communal kitchen. It will serve as a gathering place for Vietnamese residents and other multicultural communities in the area, hosting diverse activities to foster connection, training, and support.

Bongseong township, home to the Lee Hwasan clan - descendants of Prince Ly Long Tuong, now has seven households. Local authorities plan to invest an additional 200 billion KRW (over 144 million USD) by 2033 to expand the K-Vietnam Valley across a 118,890 sq.m site. The project is envisioned as a major hub for Vietnam-RoK cultural and historical exchange, and a model of integrated cultural tourism in North Gyeongsang province.

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