ASEAN Cultural Day 2024 – Connecting and Celebrating Southeast Asian Culture

On October 16, as the Chair of the ASEAN Spouses Association in Washington, DC (ASC), the Vietnamese Embassy Spouses Association chaired and coordinated with other ASEAN Spouses Associations to successfully organize the ASEAN Cultural Day 2024 with the theme "ASEAN for All" in Kensington, Maryland.

The event attracted more than 400 guests including Ambassadors, Charge d'Affaires and their spouses from ASEAN countries, and many countries in the diplomatic corps at WDC; representatives of the DC, Maryland, Virginia governments, businesses, socio-political organizations and the ASEAN-American community, and ASC members from 10 ASEAN countries at WDC.

Ngày Văn hóa ASEAN 2024 – Kết nối và tôn vinh văn hóa Đông Nam Á

Chairwoman of the ASEAN Wives' Council (ASC), wife of the Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Thi Bich Van delivered the opening speech at ASEAN Cultural Day 2024.

Speaking at the opening of the event, ASC 2024 President Tran Thi Bich Van emphasized that enhancing cultural exchange plays an important role in building friendship and partnership, not only in the ASEAN region but also with American friends and countries around the world.

Ms. Van hopes that with dances and fashion shows expressing the heart and soul of ASEAN at the event, it will bring the ASEAN region closer to American friends and countries around the world.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Nguyen Quoc Dung and his wife Tran Thi Bich Van took a souvenir photo with ASEAN Ambassadors and their spouses and VIP guests.

In his speech at the event, Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Washington DC (ACW) - Philippine Ambassador Josse Manuel G. Romualdez highly appreciated the role of the ASEAN Spouses Association in promoting and honoring Southeast Asian culture in the US, actively supporting the political activities of the ASEAN Committee in Washington DC to strengthen diplomatic relations between ASEAN and the US and its partners.

At the same time, it affirmed that ASEAN's cultural diversity has been and is a source of strength, consolidating common identity and promoting cooperation among countries in the region.

Attendees view Vietnamese lacquer paintings at the event.

The ASEAN Cultural Day 2024 event was truly vibrant with a series of rich cultural activities such as painting exhibitions, traditional costume displays, art performances and culinary parties. The embassies of 10 ASEAN countries contributed very special performances, expressing the spirit and soul of ASEAN culture.

The Vietnamese Embassy's Ladies and Gentlemen Association enthusiastically participated in many special activities such as: introducing lacquer paintings of Hanoi's Old Quarter and silk paintings of conical hats, displaying traditional costumes of the Pa Then ethnic group, lotus dance with traditional music...

Chairwoman of the ASEAN Wives Council (ASC), wife of the Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Thi Bich Van danced with VIP guests.

In particular, the performance of Vietnam's bamboo dance art exchange brought an extremely vibrant atmosphere with the enthusiastic participation of many ASEAN Ambassadors and their spouses and VIP guests.

Besides the performances, Vietnamese cuisine is also a must-see. The Vietnamese food stall with crispy fried golden shrimp balls and traditional dried beef salad brought diners the quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine.

Guests enjoyed Vietnamese dishes at the food stall of the Vietnamese Embassy's Spouses Association.

ASEAN Cultural Day 2024 ended with many deep impressions of a united, dynamic ASEAN with a long-standing, diverse culture, wishing to connect and exchange with countries around the world.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung and his wife Tran Thi Bich Van took a souvenir photo with the Spouses Association and Embassy staff participating in organizing the program.

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