Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and Russian friends watch water puppet show, enjoy green rice and coffee

On the afternoon of July 25, the Vietnam Cultural Festival 2025 was jubilantly opened with the presence of General Secretary To Lam's wife, Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly, and many Russian friends at Red Square - a symbolic place of Russia.

Photo: Hoang Hong

The festival is held at Red Square, a symbolic place of Russia, showing your respect for Vietnamese culture and your desire to bring Vietnamese culture closer to the Russian people. With about 1 million people visiting this area every month, the festival is an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Russians, especially young people, to get acquainted with and experience firsthand the cultural beauty of Vietnam.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly delivered the opening speech at the Vietnam Cultural Festival 2025. (Photo: Hoang Hong)

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her emotion when the Vietnamese Cultural Festival with the theme Vietnam - Colors from the tropics took place on Red Square - the heart of Russia.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that this event of special significance is a prominent activity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. Over the past three-quarters of a century, the Vietnam-Russia relationship has been continuously strengthened and developed in all fields.

The historical imprints of Vietnam-Russia friendship have been deeply imprinted in the minds and hearts of many generations of people of the two countries. Throughout that history, culture has always played the role of a bridge, closely connecting the people of Vietnam and Russia.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and Russian friends enjoyed Vietnamese cuisine and listened to an introduction to Ao Dai at the Festival. (Photo: Hoang Hong)

“The 2025 Vietnam Cultural Festival, with the quintessence and typical cultural colors of Vietnam, is one of the vivid proofs of the close cultural cooperation between the two countries,” affirmed Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly.

The festival is also an opportunity to experience the quintessence of Vietnamese culture - from traditional arts such as water puppetry, land puppetry, folk music, traditional silk and ao dai, "com" cuisine, handicrafts and lacquer jewelry.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that the Vietnamese cultural festival in Russia in 2025 is "a symbol of a relationship that is constantly changing, constantly developing but still maintains its historical depth." (Photo: Hoang Hong)

Each performance, each booth, each cultural product is not only an expression of aesthetics, but also contains the historical depth and soul of the Vietnamese people - a nation that loves peace , values loyalty, is industrious and compassionate.

“The traditional, vibrant images, colors and flavors of a tropical country present in an ancient and majestic historical space will create a cultural picture that is both similar and complementary, enriching global cultural diversity,” affirmed Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly.

Believing that what creates a lasting bond between Vietnam and Russia is the understanding and empathy of culture and people, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that the Vietnamese cultural festival in Russia in 2025 is "a symbol of a relationship that is constantly renewing, constantly developing but always preserving its historical depth".

First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Senate (right) and Deputy Mayor of Moscow speak at the opening ceremony. (Photo: Hoang Hong)

Also attending and speaking at the opening ceremony, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Senate Andrey Yatskin and representatives of the Moscow city government affirmed that cultural events such as the 2025 Vietnam Cultural Festival at Red Square will help further connect the people of the two countries.

Emphasizing that Vietnam is one of the 7 countries with the most Russian tourists, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow believes that the festival will help more Russians understand and visit Vietnam and vice versa.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi affirmed that the festival is one of the results of the successful talks between General Secretary To Lam and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in May 2025. The festival being held for the first time in Red Square has a special significance, attracting the attention of Russian people, thereby helping them understand more about the country and people of Vietnam.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi speaks at the opening ceremony. (Photo: Hoang Hong)

Immediately after the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and the delegates visited and experienced the booths introducing Vietnamese cuisine, Ao Dai, and lacquerware. The experiences left a deep and good impression in the hearts of the delegates and the Russian people about a peaceful Vietnam, rich in cultural traditions and hospitality.

The Vietnam Cultural Festival lasts from July 25 to August 3, 2025. During the 10 days of the festival, Russian people and visitors from other countries coming to Red Square will be immersed in the rich flavors of Vietnam thanks to traditional music performances, dry and water puppetry with the theme "Tropical Sounds"; Vietnamese cuisine booth with the theme "Taste of Green Rice: The Quintessence of Hanoi, The Soul of the Red River"; Area for introducing and performing Vietnamese Ao Dai "Hanoi - 12 Flower Seasons"; Introducing and displaying Vietnamese lacquer products "Vuon Son - Tropical Colors"; Photo exhibition space "Vietnam, the country, the people".

In addition to the Ao Dai performance, cuisine, and water puppetry, there is also a special lacquer collection personally designed by Madame Ngo Phuong Ly for the festival.

According to World and Vietnam Newspaper

At the invitation of the Government of the Russian Federation and the government of Saint Petersburg, the wife of General Secretary To Lam, Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly, came to Moscow to visit and attend cultural diplomacy activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/phu-nhan-ngo-phuong-ly-cung-ban-be-nga-xem-mua-roi-nuoc-thuong-thuc-com-cafe-2425918.html