Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly donated ao dai and lacquer paintings to the Russian museum.

phu nhân Ngô Phương Ly - Ảnh 1. — Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova (far left), pose with the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) donated to the National Museum of Oriental Art - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

On the afternoon of July 30th (local time), as part of her working visit to Russia, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam , met with the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova, and attended the opening of a Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition at the National Museum of Oriental Art.

Russia wants more cultural activities with Vietnam.

During the meeting, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her pleasure at meeting the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova, and thanked the Minister personally and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation for their support in organizing activities in Russia to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Affirming that culture always plays an important role in connecting people and nations, the First Lady expressed her emotion at the love for Vietnamese culture shown by the Russian people, as a large crowd lined up to enter the area where the Vietnamese Cultural Festival was held on Red Square after the opening ceremony on July 25th.

For her part, Minister Olga Lyubimova welcomed Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly leading the Vietnamese delegation to participate in cultural diplomacy activities in Russia on this occasion, affirming that cultural cooperation plays an important role in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Appreciating the significance of the Vietnamese Cultural Festival at Red Square this time, the minister expressed hope that more similar activities would be organized in other parts of Russia, at other times of the year.

Minister Olga Lyubimova respectfully extended an invitation to Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly to visit and participate in cultural diplomatic activities, affirming that Russia always welcomes the wife of General Secretary To Lam and Vietnamese partners.

Welcoming the ideas and proposals from the Russian side, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her hope that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation would continue to contribute to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries through practical cooperation such as training, artist exchanges; organizing exhibitions and film weeks in both countries, and art performance programs, etc.

Traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai dress in Russian museum.

phu nhân Ngô Phương Ly - Ảnh 2. — Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly presents the painting "Palm Hills" by the late artist Phan Ke An to the National Museum of Oriental Art - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Also on the afternoon of July 30th, at the National Museum of Oriental Art, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and Minister Olga Lyubimova attended the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition themed "Beauty Behind the Spotlight: Vietnamese Lacquer Paintings".

The exhibition, running from July 30th to September 14th, 2025, brings together almost the entire collection of Vietnamese lacquer paintings from the museum, featuring renowned artists such as Le Quoc Loc, Pham Hau, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Pham Van Don, Nguyen Trong Kiem, Tran Dinh Tho, Linh Chi, Duong Bich Lien, Hoang Tich Tru, and others.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly affirmed that the event holds great significance, not only culturally but also as a vivid symbol of friendship between the people of Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

The First Lady affirmed that lacquer painting is a distinctive traditional art form of Vietnam; it is the result of a meticulous and elaborate artistic process, requiring patience, masterful skills, and the soul of the artist.

"Today's exhibition is not only a cultural event but also a bridge for artistic exchange between the Vietnamese and Russian people," Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized.

Expressing sincere gratitude to Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly for attending the opening ceremony, the director of the National Museum of Oriental Art affirmed that this is the largest exhibition of Vietnamese lacquer paintings ever held at the museum, reflecting the richness and uniqueness of Vietnamese culture.

The exhibition's curator, Ms. Legostaeva Albina, emphasized the efforts and creativity of the artists at the Indochina College of Fine Arts, established 100 years ago in Vietnam, along with the cultural exchange between East and West that led to the creation of unique and aesthetically pleasing works of art.

The museum director and the exhibition curator hope that this event will leave a lasting impression on visitors by allowing them to explore and gain a deeper understanding of various aspects of Vietnamese culture, contributing to further promoting understanding between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

phu nhân Ngô Phương Ly - Ảnh 3. — Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and delegates at the lacquer painting exhibition, showcasing works from Vietnam - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

With deep affection for heritage and a desire to spread the beauty of Vietnamese culture to international friends, on this special occasion, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly respectfully presented the National Museum of Oriental Art with several cultural items, including the lacquer painting "Palm Hills" by the late artist Phan Ke An - one of the representative artists of 20th-century Vietnamese painting.

The museum director expressed his gratitude and sincere thanks for the gift from the First Lady, affirming that it is truly a precious gem in the museum's collection of lacquer paintings.

The wife of General Secretary To Lam also respectfully presented the museum with a traditional Vietnamese ao dai, inspired by the bamboo groves of Vietnam and the birch forests of Russia. When birch trees are depicted on the ao dai, the two cultures seem to merge into one: the gentle spirit of Vietnam and the pure, unwavering beauty of Russia.

"This is a small gift, but I hope that this traditional Vietnamese ao dai will become part of the Vietnamese cultural collection at the National Museum of Oriental Art and, above all, will be a subtle symbol of the sincere, close, and enduring friendship between our two nations," Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed.

Following the exhibition, the wife of General Secretary To Lam, along with other delegates, toured all the exhibition spaces showcasing the lacquer paintings. On this occasion, she also presented and introduced to the Russian Minister of Culture, the director of the National Museum of Oriental Art, and the curator of the lacquer painting exhibition items that she had personally designed.