Opening of Vietnam Culture - Tourism Festival in Korea: Connecting history, continuing future cooperation

On August 24, 2025, in a joyful atmosphere in Bonghwa district, Gyeongsangbuk-do province - the land associated with the Ly family, the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Culture - Tourism Festival in Korea was solemnly held, an event that marked a new milestone in the Vietnam - Korea cultural exchange relationship.

Attending the opening ceremony were Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam; Mr. Vu Ho - Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea; Ms. Doan Phuong Lan, Consul General of Vietnam in Busan; on the Korean side were Mr. Kim Hakhong, Vice Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province; Mr. Park Hyeon Guk, Governor of Bonghwa County, along with representatives of local authorities and a large number of Vietnamese people in Korea.

At the beginning of the program, children in the Vietnamese-Korean family sang the national anthems of Vietnam and Korea, creating a solemn and warm atmosphere, expressing the close friendship between the two peoples.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Ho An Phong emphasized the significance of General Secretary To Lam's State visit to Korea in August 2025, an event that opened a new page in Vietnam-Korea relations, creating a strong impetus for cultural exchange, tourism cooperation and strengthening the friendship between the two peoples. The Deputy Minister also highly appreciated the project to build the Vietnam Village and the King Ly Thai To Monument in Bonghwa - a sacred symbol of the historical exchange and lasting affection between the two peoples.

Chairman of Bonghwa County expressed his deep gratitude to the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the two countries, the leaders of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, parliamentarians, businesses and international friends who have always cared for and accompanied the development of the county. He expressed his joy and pride in the first Vietnam Culture and Tourism Festival held in Bonghwa in a very meaningful context. Bonghwa Village is not only a land with more than 800 years of history, associated with the descendants of the Ly Dynasty - a symbol of the long-standing exchange between the people of the two countries - but also carries within it the aspiration to become a center of global cultural exchange. According to him, the precious attention and support of the leaders of the two countries and international friends will be the driving force for Bonghwa to realize the dream of creating the K-Vietnam Valley, creating a symbol of cooperation and lasting friendship between Korea and Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Culture and Tourism Festival in Korea, Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea Vu Ho expressed his emotion at the active participation of the Vietnamese community in Bonghwa and the support of the local government and people. The Ambassador said that this event opens up opportunities for sustainable development for the two countries' communities, and affirmed that the K-Valley Vietnam project will become a symbol of long-term cultural cooperation, contributing to fostering friendship and understanding between the people of Vietnam and Korea.

In the Chung Hyo Dang Heritage Space (Chunghyodang), Bongseong-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, which preserves many documents related to the Lee family in Korea, the Opening Ceremony took place solemnly with three key rituals associated with the K-Vietnam Valley project being promoted by the locality. The space for the event not only carries the historical depth of the relic cluster, but is also planned as a new cultural and tourist destination of Gyeongsangbuk-do province.

In the presence of Bonghwa district leaders, representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam, the Vietnamese community and local people, the ceremony of laying the roof beam of the Multicultural Community House was held according to traditional Korean rituals, marking the milestone of completing the frame of the project - the core item of the K-Vietnam Valley complex in Bonghwa. This was followed by the ceremony of installing and raising the curtain to inaugurate the statue of King Ly Thai To, symbolizing the historical relationship between Vietnam and Korea through the Ly family, and the planting of a souvenir tree by delegates from both sides, sending a message of fostering sustainable friendship. About 800 delegates and people attended, creating a warm and exciting atmosphere of exchange.

These rituals not only “materialize” the heritage story in a contemporary space but also link the event with the local cultural and tourism development plan and the flow of Vietnam-Korea cultural cooperation.

This year’s opening ceremony also left its mark with a variety of artistic performances: from performances by children in Vietnamese-Korean families and the Vietnamese community in Korea, to special programs brought by artists from the Vietnam Music and Dance Theater. The performances were both attractive and intimate, leaving many good impressions in the hearts of Korean and international audiences.

In addition, booths promoting Vietnamese tourism and introducing Vietnamese cuisine also attracted a large number of visitors, bringing unique cultural experiences and evoking love for the country and people of Vietnam.

Held annually in Korea, the Vietnam Culture and Tourism Festival increasingly affirms its role as a bridge connecting and bringing the image of Vietnam and its people closer to international friends, while concretizing the commitment to cultural and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Hoang Thu Thuy

Source: https://icd.gov.vn/khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-du-lich-viet-nam-tai-han-quoc-gan-ket-lich-su-tiep-noi-hop-tac-tuong-lai/