Good impressions of Vietnam - Italy Year in Umbria region

Within the framework of the Vietnam - Italy Year 2023 activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy organized a series of events for the Vietnam - Italy Year 2023 in the Umbria region from April 14-16, with the sponsorship and coordination of the Umbria regional government and the Perugia province, in the Umbria region.

Photo caption — *Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung and President of the Umbria Region, Ms. Donatella Tesei. Photo: Truong Duy/VNA correspondent in Italy*

This is the first region where the Embassy has organized commemorative and promotional activities after the opening ceremony of the Vietnam - Italy Year held in Rome on March 31. According to the VNA correspondent in Italy, the Vietnam - Italy Year 2023 program in Umbria is very diverse, including important activities such as meetings and contacts between Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung and leaders of the Regional and local authorities; seminars and talks on complementarities and potential to promote economic cooperation between Vietnam and Umbria; and many outstanding cultural activities such as the photography exhibition "Vietnam's Country and People", presenting outstanding Vietnamese films to local cinemas, as well as introducing and connecting cuisine. At the meeting with the President of the Umbria region, Ms. Donatella Tesei, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung announced the plan to organize the Vietnam - Italy Year program in Umbria and was honored to receive a letter of sponsorship and support from the regional government for this series of activities. The Ambassador also respectfully presented Ms. Donatella Tesei with a lapel pin with the logo commemorating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - Italy relations, jointly used by the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and a traditional Vietnamese ao dai designed by artist Van Duong Thanh.

For her part, Ms. Donatella Tesei said that Umbria was honored to be chosen by the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy as the first locality to organize the series of activities for the Vietnam - Italy Year 2023. According to her, these are very effective activities to further enhance understanding between the two sides, open up many specific cooperation opportunities and contribute to tightening the good friendship between the two countries. She affirmed that the government, departments and localities in Umbria will actively support and accompany the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy in this series of activities. Meanwhile, when meeting with Ambassador Duong Hai Hung, Ms. Stefania Proietti, President of Perugia Province, the capital of the Umbria region and the place where most of the important activities in this program take place, sincerely thanked the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy for creating an opportunity for the local government to join in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and affirmed that the government, together with agencies, businesses and communities in Perugia, will actively coordinate to organize these activities.

On this occasion, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung also visited and met with government leaders, businesses and community organizations of many localities in the region such as the cities of Citta di Castello, Foglino and Gubbio. The leaders of the region, provinces and cities in the region all highly appreciated and considered the Vietnam - Italy Year activities in the region as a very important event, a great opportunity to promote Vietnamese culture and a testament to the good relations between Vietnam and the region. In particular, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy coordinated with the Rotary Club of Perugia Trasimeno to organize a photography exhibition introducing the country and people of Vietnam in the city of Perugia. The exhibition was opened with the presence of the President of Perugia Province, Ms. Stefania Proietti and the President of the Rotary Club of Perugia Trasimeno, Mr. Simone Tomassini, along with many officials, businessmen, intellectuals and a large number of local people.

The special photo collection of famous photographers in Vietnam has left many good impressions and feelings about Vietnam, promoting the beautiful landscapes and many unique cultural features of Vietnam to international friends. After the exhibition, the attendees enjoyed typical dishes of traditional Vietnamese cuisine, especially the delicate combination of Vietnamese dishes and wine of the Umbria region. In a series of cultural promotion activities, with the consent of the producers, the Embassy presented two outstanding films of Vietnamese cinema in recent times, including "Hoa Jasmine" by director Dang Nhat Minh and "Dem toi Ruc ro" by director Aaron Toronto, to the cinemas of the cities of Perugia and Città di Castello. These are outstanding films that have represented Vietnamese cinema in other major international film festivals, promising to bring to the Italian public new aspects of culture and people as well as the developments of contemporary Vietnamese cinema.

The series of events of the Vietnam - Italy Year 2023 has been a great success, promoting political relations, opening up opportunities for economic cooperation, effectively promoting Vietnamese culture and leaving many positive impressions on the public of the Umbria region in particular and Italy in general. Local media, television and newspapers have reported on these activities.