Impressions of days in Vietnam

Ms. Claudia Adriazola Rodríguez, Vice President of the Chilean Association of Painters and Sculptors (APECH), recalls her special visit to Vietnam 8 years ago.

Vice President of the Chilean Association of Painters and Sculptors, Ms. Claudia Adriazola Rodríguez (fourth from left) attended the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition "Vietnam Yesterday and Today" in September 2015 in Hanoi . (Photo: NVCC)

In 2015, as the General Secretary of the Association of Painters and Sculptors (APECH) and Project Director of the Exhibition “Vietnam Yesterday and Today” in Vietnam, I was invited by the Vietnamese government to visit and inaugurate this project.

In collaboration with the Chile-Vietnam Friendship Cultural Institute, the Vietnamese Embassy in Chile and the Chilean Association of Painters and Sculptors, the exhibition attracted the participation of more than 40 Chilean artists who joined hands to create paintings to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Vietnam's liberation of the South and national reunification (1975-2015).

The event was first opened in Chile and then at the Children's Palace, Hanoi City in September of that year, with the presence of local authorities and Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Claudio de Negri Quintana. This meaningful activity received the attention of the people of both countries. At the end of the program, the artists dedicated the works in the exhibition to the Government of Vietnam.

Students visit the exhibition. (Photo: NVCC)

Accompanying me was Ms. Virginia Cordero, another member of the APECH Board of Directors. As soon as we arrived in Hanoi, we immediately felt the uniqueness of this place. The traces of war and bombs were no longer present. The rows of green trees along the busy streets, interspersed with colorful flower gardens, created a vibrant and colorful atmosphere.

Although we had some initial difficulties, we gradually learned to get used to the traffic in Vietnam with its constant flow of people and vehicles.

We had the opportunity to visit the Fine Arts Museum; meet the Vietnam Artists Association; visit the Ho Chi Minh Historical Site and Museum; visit the Ethnology Museum; visit Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh - one of the seven wonders of the world .... But wherever we were, we always felt the friendliness, hospitality and kindness of the local people, as well as their special respect for President Ho Chi Minh, the beloved leader of Vietnam.

“Through conversations with them, we further admire and respect President Ho Chi Minh's life for the people and the country, as well as your extraordinary journey in fighting, unifying and building the country.”

Mrs. Claudia Adriazola Rodríguez.

In particular, during our time in Vietnam, we gradually understood more about your heroic history and unique traditional culture.

Interestingly, at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which houses cultural artifacts of your country’s 54 ethnic groups, I noticed a great similarity between the weaving of the ancient Vietnamese and the indigenous Mapuche people. Was weaving born at the same time in both places, or was there a transfer of weaving skills at some point in history?

It may be difficult for us to determine, but there is one thing I am always sure of. That is the openness and sincerity between people, which I clearly felt through the interesting conversation in English with the students at the museum that day. That will be an important factor, contributing to tightening the Vietnam-Chile relationship in the past, in the present and towards the future.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/pho-chu-tich-hiep-hoi-hoa-si-va-dieu-khac-chile-an-tuong-ve-nhung-ngay-o-viet-nam-227729.html