Extending friendship
One evening in late June, Prague was as gentle as a “summer silk dress”, at Sapa Trade Center - known as “Little Hanoi ” in the heart of Europe, the sound of bamboo flutes led the way, opening up a space where two cultures intersect.
Vietnamese folk songs blended with Czech folk melodies are not just sounds, but emotions, nostalgia, and hopes for a future filled with friendship.
That is the consistent spirit of the art program "Quintessence of Vietnamese culture" - a special highlight in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.
In his speech at the event , Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Ho An Phong affirmed: "The sentiment and similarity in the history of the struggle for national independence have brought our two countries closer together."
"On the basis of that fine tradition, the two countries have continuously cultivated understanding, trust and solidarity, not only in the political and economic aspects but also in the fields of culture and art," said Deputy Minister Ho An Phong.
Many generations of Vietnamese artists have been trained at prestigious institutions in the Czech Republic, absorbing the quintessence of a culture with strong identity and deep humanity. In contrast, Vietnamese culture with its long history and unique oriental colors has also left its mark on Czech friends.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam called this “a new historical milestone” as the two countries officially upgraded their relationship to a Strategic Partnership following Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit earlier this year.
“This mutually beneficial partnership will grow stronger and stronger thanks to the momentum and close connection between our two cultures and peoples. I can proudly affirm that the cultural connection forged between Vietnam and the Czech Republic is extraordinary,” Mr. Duong Hoai Nam affirmed.
“I have had many opportunities to enjoy wonderful cultural and artistic performances of the Czech Republic since I set foot in this beautiful and hospitable country in March 2024. I also know that my counterpart in Hanoi, Ambassador Hynek Kmoníček, is also doing a great job promoting Czech culture in Vietnam,” he said.
“75 years is a long time, enough for the ties between the two peoples to become strong and for deep understanding to develop,” said Czech Deputy Minister of Culture David Kašpar, in a solemn but also friendly atmosphere.
He emphasized the special role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic with more than 100,000 people as “an inseparable part of our society”.
“They have enriched our culture and left a lasting mark on our daily lives. For that, they deserve our recognition and gratitude,” he said.
“On the contrary, we are also very pleased that Czech culture - music, literature, cinema, theatre... has found a place in the hearts of our Vietnamese friends. I believe that cultural exchanges, joint projects and artistic cooperation will continue to develop, helping to build even stronger bridges between the two peoples,” said Deputy Minister David Kašpar.
Vibrant cultural bridges
The role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic is very important. This is a dynamic, close-knit community and has been officially recognized as an ethnic minority in the host country.
According to Deputy Minister Ho An Phong, this "is not only a recognition of the positive contributions of our people to the local social life, but also a vivid symbol of harmonious integration and respect for cultural diversity - values that both Vietnam and the Czech Republic share and pursue".
Moreover, the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic is a sustainable and vibrant cultural bridge between the two peoples, contributing to promoting understanding, solidarity and friendship between the people of the two countries.
Ambassador Duong Hoai Nam also expressed his pride: “The Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic has made important contributions to the efforts to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries over the years. I am truly proud of my overseas compatriots.”
Vietnamese Art Night in the Heart of Europe
The highlight of this anniversary event is the art program "Quintessence of Vietnamese culture", performed by the Vietnam Music, Dance and Singing Theater.
Each performance is a beautiful melody, reflecting the diversity, richness and uniqueness of Vietnamese and Czech culture, from the deep sounds of the monochord, the vibrant bamboo zither, to the dances recreating the "colors of the ancient capital" and the great Northwest.
The performance “Skoda - Lasky”, a famous Czech ensemble, was performed on Vietnamese traditional instruments such as the T'rung, Erhu, and Tam Thap Luc, bringing a familiar yet strange experience, awakening the harmony between the two cultures of East and West.
“Pod Našima Okny” - a Czech folk song, arranged in Vietnamese style and performed by singer Ha Myo, as a warm greeting from Vietnamese people to Czech friends.
In particular, the solo performance of the monochord “Homeland of Three Regions” performed by People’s Artist Truong Giang, with the delicate accompaniment of the orchestra, truly touched the hearts of the audience. The simple yet profound sound of the monochord - a musical instrument with the Vietnamese soul, led the audience on a journey through the three regions of the country, through each folk song imbued with identity.
The performance not only moved many overseas Vietnamese but also received warm applause from Czech friends and the diplomatic corps as a vivid demonstration of the influence of national art in the hearts of friends around the world.
“It is not just a meeting of sounds, but a meeting of souls, where art transcends geographical and linguistic boundaries to touch people's hearts,” Deputy Minister Ho An Phong said emotionally.
Towards the future, strong cultural and tourism cooperation
This event is expected to be the starting point for deeper cooperation in the future.
“We hope that today’s program and a series of exhibitions and tourism promotion activities within the framework of the Vietnam Culture and Tourism Days in the Czech Republic will contribute to further strengthening the relationship between the people of the two countries and opening up new cooperation opportunities in the fields of culture, arts and tourism,” Deputy Minister Ho An Phong expressed.
Deputy Minister David Kašpar concluded with a warm invitation: “One of the next projects will be an exhibition on Vietnamese water puppetry at the Museum of Puppetry Culture in Chrudim. I cordially invite you to come and admire this unique space.”
“We all recognize that culture has a unique ability to overcome geographical distances, language barriers and historical differences. Therefore, we hope that today’s solemn moment will not only be an occasion to remember our common past, but also a call to the future, to continue promoting cultural dialogue, developing friendly relations and creating new opportunities for exchange and mutual enrichment,” Deputy Minister David Kašpar emphasized.
The music night ended, but those melodies will forever resonate in people's hearts, just like the way the Vietnam - Czech relationship has been nurtured and spread over the past seven decades.
In the bright eyes of Vietnamese people living far from home, in the affectionate smiles of international friends, there exists a friendly, profound and aspirational Vietnam, ready to continue on the journey of cooperation, development and sharing.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/75-nam-tu-nhip-cau-ky-uc-den-tieng-vong-tuong-lai-146649.html
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