A cultural bridge connecting Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka hosted a cultural and artistic exchange program in Sri Lanka, featuring artists from the Thang Long Music and Dance Theatre and the Hanoi Cheo Theatre.

As part of the activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Sri Lanka (1970-2025), the Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka hosted a cultural and artistic exchange program in a central province of Sri Lanka on August 24th, with the participation of artists from the Thang Long Music and Dance Theatre and the Hanoi Cheo Theatre.

The program received support from Truc Lam Zen Monastery - the first Vietnamese temple in Sri Lanka, presided over by Venerable Thich Phap Quang.

The program attracted the presence of Professor Sarath Abayakon - Governor of the Central Province, Director of the Provincial Department of Education , principals of many primary and secondary schools, along with a large number of students and local people.

Notably, embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka also attended, creating an atmosphere of friendly exchange and connection.

In her opening remarks at the exchange program, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam emphasized: “Vietnam and Sri Lanka have a long-standing traditional friendship, nurtured by similarities in history, culture, and religion. Cultural exchange activities like today serve as a bridge to bring the people of the two countries closer together, contributing to strengthening mutual understanding and opening up practical cooperation prospects in the fields of education, tourism , and people-to-people exchanges.”

Also at the event, Governor Sarath Abayakon of Central Vietnam reiterated his affection for the country, people of Vietnam, and President Ho Chi Minh; expressing gratitude for the attention given by the Embassy and the Vietnamese community to the locality in organizing such a special cultural event for the first time in the Central Vietnam province.

The Governor affirmed that Truc Lam Kandy Monastery is a vivid testament to the strong bond between Buddhism and the people of the two countries. It is not only a place for cultural and religious exchange, but also a shining example of charitable work, community education, and especially the dissemination of the Vietnamese language to the local people. These cultural seeds will further strengthen the foundation for Sri Lanka-Vietnam relations in the present and future.

The cultural exchange program presented a diverse cultural tapestry, blending traditional folk music and modern music from Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

Many characteristic Vietnamese musical instruments such as the bầu lute, tranh zither, and bamboo flute were introduced and performed through songs from both countries, creating melodies that were both profound and unique.

Vietnamese traditional opera melodies also received enthusiastic attention from the audience, with some students even wanting to try singing along with Vietnamese artists.

The most touching highlight of the program was the participation of the children from Truc Lam Zen Monastery, who sang the Vietnamese song "Going to School" and danced with Vietnamese artists to the music of the songs "Drum Rice" and "Vietnam, My Homeland."

This is vivid evidence of the increasingly widespread influence of Vietnamese culture and language in Sri Lanka. In addition, some international songs, such as "Cheri Cheri Lady," also provided a vibrant experience as the artists performed in collaboration with international guests.

The event affirmed the role of the Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka in not only promoting political and diplomatic relations, but also strengthening cultural and educational cooperation, fostering community cohesion, and contributing to the development of the Vietnamese language.

This is one of the meaningful activities in the series of celebrations commemorating diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Sri Lanka throughout 2025, contributing to strengthening the strong traditional friendship between the people of the two countries, not only at the central level but also at the local level.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nhip-cau-van-hoa-ket-noi-viet-nam-sri-lanka-post1057692.vnp