Bustling colors of Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival in Sri Lanka

Rộn ràng sắc màu Tết Trung Thu Việt tại Sri Lanka

Delegates attending the event.

On the afternoon of October 4, at Truc Lam Zen Monastery, the first Vietnamese pagoda located in Ambakote, Central Sri Lanka, the Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka coordinated with Truc Lam Zen Monastery and the community to organize the program "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 2025" for Sri Lankan and Vietnamese children.

This is the first time the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival has been organized by the Embassy in Sri Lanka. On the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1970-2025), the event created a bustling atmosphere, contributing to further strengthening the close friendship and vibrant people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The ceremony was attended by Vice President of the Sri Lankan Parliament Rizvie Salih, Governor of Central Province Sarath Abeyakoon, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trinh Thi Tam, abbot of Truc Lam Zen Monastery Venerable Thich Phap Quang, a large number of Vietnamese community and local people. In particular, the program had the participation of more than 100 Sri Lankan and Vietnamese children.

Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam delivered the opening speech.

In her opening speech, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam expressed her excitement that for the first time, the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival was held in Sri Lanka, right on the occasion of Sri Lanka celebrating World Children's Day on October 1, further highlighting the similarities between the two countries in showing affection, care and concern for the young generation - the future owners of the two countries.

The Ambassador emphasized the meaning of reunion, family and solidarity of the Mid-Autumn Festival, expressing his belief that introducing this special cultural feature of the Vietnamese people will help Sri Lankan people better understand the country and people of Vietnam, especially the care for children.

Vice President of the Sri Lankan Parliament Rizvie Salih expressed his joy at attending a festival imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity.

On the Sri Lankan side, expressing his joy at attending the festival imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity right in the central province of Sri Lanka, Vice President of the National Assembly Rizvie Salih affirmed that the event is a vivid demonstration of the increasingly close, trusting and cooperative relationship between the two countries.

The Vice President of the Sri Lankan Parliament emphasized that the children of the two countries enjoying the Mid-Autumn Festival, singing together, and participating in traditional games is a bright symbol of friendship, solidarity, as well as hope for a peaceful, prosperous and long-term cooperative future between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

From the afternoon, Vietnamese and Sri Lankan children enthusiastically participated in competitions such as making lanterns, decorating fruit trays and creating artistic fruit shapes under the guidance of Embassy staff and the community.

The teams, including children from both countries, worked together to create, compete enthusiastically, and connect innocent friendships, creating many interesting works that reflect the cultural characteristics of both nations.

As night falls, the Zen Monastery space becomes even more sparkling and brilliant with lit star lanterns, Vietnamese flags, flowers and balloons, and the bustling sound of lion drums opening the entertainment program.

Sri Lankan children learning Vietnamese with children of the Vietnamese community confidently brought special singing and dancing performances, from the traditional lion dance to familiar songs such as The star lantern, Mid-Autumn Festival carrying lanterns, Bong bong bang bang, Noi vong tay lon... , expressing the spirit of borderless connection of the two nations' childhoods, making the space of the Zen Monastery bustling and emotional. In particular, the appearance of Hang and Cuoi brought the audience back to the sparkling fairy tale world of the full moon night.

The leaders of the National Assembly, Central Province of Sri Lanka, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam and Venerable Thich Phap Quang presented awards for two competitions in making lanterns and decorating fruit trays.

During the event, the leaders of the National Assembly and the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam and Venerable Thich Phap Quang, presented prizes to two competitions in making lanterns and decorating fruit trays, and presented gifts to students with excellent achievements in learning Vietnamese and actively participating in activities of Truc Lam Zen Monastery and the Embassy, contributing to promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. The meaningful gifts were given, conveying trust and encouragement to the children.

At the end of the program, delegates, parents and children enjoyed the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival with moon cakes, candies, fruits... This was not only a sweet party for children but also a moment of reunion, evoking the soul of the homeland in the hearts of the expatriate community.

The Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival in Sri Lanka has become an unforgettable memory, not only for the Vietnamese community but also for Sri Lankan friends, as a vivid demonstration of the increasingly strong friendship and cooperation between the two countries.