Vietnamese Students Learn Thai Culture through 'Songkran in Hanoi'
The Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi together with the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV) organize the “Songkran in Hanoi” event at the “Thai Room”, DAV on April 7.
The event marks the Thai traditional New Year. Songkran, also known as the Water Festival, is celebrated throughout the country during 13 – 15 April every year. The festival places emphasis on respect, love, and gratitude using water as means of expression.
Songkran is the occasion for family unions. Thai people often visit temples and clean their houses during the holiday. Fun-loving Thai people throw water at each other as a symbol of washing off the misfortune of the past year to welcome a new start.
Nikorndej Balankura, Ambassador of Thailand to Vietnam, and university students in Hanoi perform the “Rod Nam Dam Hua” or water pouring ceremony, which aims to pay respect to the elderly and ask for their blessings (Photo: Valerie Mai).
This year's event consists of a number of cultural activities to demonstrate how Thais celebrate their traditional New Year including “Rod Nam Dam Hua” or a water pouring ceremony, a showcase of Thai culinary by Thai chefs, dance performances, and workshops.
Thai companies also send representatives to events to introduce their products and services.
The event welcomes students from leading universities in Hanoi, namely the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Hanoi University, University of Languages and International Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities and FPT University (Photo: Valerie Mai).
Thai renowned dessert, “luk chup” is brought to the event (Photo: Valerie Mai).
Thai chef instruct Vietnamese students to make “luk chup” (Photo: Valerie Mai).
Many students expressed their excitement about joining Songkran and learning Thai dance for the first time. Thanks to the event, they better understand Thai culture and have a fun experience with the festival.
Thai dancer teaches traditional dance to Vietnamese students (Photo: Valerie Mai).
Vietnamese students learn to dance (Photo: Valerie Mai).
According to Thai scholar Songrit Pongern, Vietnam has a very beautiful and rich culture which is very attractive and appealing to international friends.
On the afternoon of March 24, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh met with Thai Deputy Minister of Labor Surachai Chaitrakulthong to discuss measures ...
The Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association of Hue city held its fourth congress for the 2025-2030 term on December 26. Speaking at the congress, Nguyen Van Thanh, President of the Central Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association, said that 2026 will be of special significance as Viet Nam and Thailand mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Central Association will coordinate with the Thailand-Viet Nam Friendship Association and local chapters to organize many practical people-to-people exchange activities between the two countries.
The inauguration ceremony of President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was held at the Ho Chi Minh President Relic Site in Udon Thani province, Thailand, on the morning of December 14. The project carries profound historical and cultural significance, expressing the affection and gratitude of the Vietnamese community in Thailand and international friends toward President Ho Chi Minh, while contributing to the preservation and dissemination of the values of his ideological, moral and lifestyle legacy.
On the occasion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, many people’s organizations and friendship associations that are friends and partners of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations have sent letters, cables and messages of congratulations to the Party, the State and the people of Viet Nam.
On the occasion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh shared with VietnamTimes Magazine her assessments and expectations regarding the significance of the Congress. The Ambassador expressed her confidence that the Congress will set forth sound strategic orientations, ushering Vietnam into a phase of rapid and sustainable development, while further deepening the great friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos.
On January 8 in Hanoi, the Vietnam-Chile Friendship and Cooperation Association (the Association) held a conference to review its activities in 2025 and outline orientations for 2026. The conference identified a key focus on promoting Vietnam-Chile cooperation in a practical and effective manner, linking people-to-people exchanges with local connectivity and concrete cooperation models.
On January 9 in Hanoi, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) convened the 14th Conference of its Presidium, 6th term, to review the results of activities in 2025 and outline key directions and tasks for 2026.
The Quang Ninh Union of Friendship Organizations held a conference on January 8 to review activities in 2025 and deploy its work program for 2026, with a focus on enhancing the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy and preparing for its 6th Congress for the 2026-2031 term.
The year 2025 closed with 10 outstanding highlights of the culture, sports and tourism sector, ranging from institutional breakthroughs, national-scale exhibitions, landmark milestones in journalism and culture, UNESCO-recognized heritage, Vietnam’s global cultural initiatives, a boom in arts and cinema, impressive sports achievements, to record-breaking growth in tourism.
Ha Thanh, President of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Ho Chi Minh City, delivered these remarks at the Conference reviewing people-to-people diplomacy in 2025 and setting directions and tasks for 2026, held on December 30 in Hanoi.
Focus
Overseas Vietnamese
Friendship
Friendship
Friendship
Focus
Friendship
Friendship
Focus
Friendship