The first Vietnamese Cultural Festival was grandly inaugurated in Red Square.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly invited Russian guests to enjoy stir-fried rice flakes and rice flake cakes - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

On the afternoon of July 25th, at Red Square – the center of Russia and Moscow – the Vietnam Cultural Festival 2025 was grandly inaugurated with the presence of the wife of General Secretary To Lam , Ms. Ngo Phuong Ly, and a large number of Russian friends.

A vivid testament to Vietnamese-Russian cultural cooperation.

The festival, held in Red Square, an iconic location in Russia, reflects your appreciation for Vietnamese culture and your desire to bring Vietnamese culture closer to the Russian people. With approximately 1 million visitors to the area each month, the festival provides an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Russians, especially young people, to become acquainted with and experience firsthand the beauty of Vietnamese culture.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her emotion at the Vietnamese Cultural Festival, themed "Vietnam - Colors from the Tropics," taking place in Red Square - the heart of Russia.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that this particularly significant event is a highlight celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. Over three-quarters of a century, this bilateral relationship has been continuously strengthened and developed in all fields.

The historical imprints of Vietnam-Russia friendship have been deeply etched in the minds and hearts of countless generations of people in both countries. Throughout this long history, culture has always played a bridging role, closely connecting the people of Vietnam and Russia.

"The Vietnam Cultural Festival 2025, showcasing the finest and most distinctive aspects of Vietnamese culture, is one of the vivid proofs of the strong cultural cooperation between the two countries," affirmed Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly delivers the opening speech at the festival - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The festival is also an opportunity to experience the finest aspects of Vietnamese culture – from traditional arts such as water puppetry, land puppetry, folk music, silk and traditional ao dai, "com" (rice flake) cuisine , handicrafts and lacquerware jewelry.

Each performance, each booth, each cultural product is not only an expression of aesthetics, but also embodies the historical depth and the soul of the Vietnamese people - a nation that loves peace, values friendship, is hardworking, and is rich in compassion.

"The vibrant, traditional images, colors, and flavors of a tropical country, present in a historical and majestic setting, will create a cultural tapestry that is both similar and complementary, enriching global cultural diversity," affirmed Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly.

Believing that the enduring bond between Vietnam and Russia is built on mutual understanding and empathy regarding culture and people, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that the 2025 Vietnamese Cultural Festival in Russia is "a symbol of a relationship that is constantly innovating, constantly developing, yet always preserving its historical depth."

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and Vietnamese and Russian delegates at the opening ceremony - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

A bridge to further strengthen ties between the people of the two countries.

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

Emphasizing that Vietnam is one of the top seven countries visited by Russian tourists, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow expressed confidence that the festival would 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 fact that the festival is being held for the first time in Red Square is of special significance, attracting the attention of the Russian people and helping them to better understand Vietnam and its people.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and other delegates visited and experienced the booths showcasing Vietnamese cuisine, ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), and lacquerware. These experiences left a deep and positive impression on the delegates and Russian people about a peaceful Vietnam, rich in cultural traditions and hospitable.

Some photos from the first day of the festival.

Performances at the festival's opening ceremony - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The traditional Vietnamese three-arched gate also serves as the entrance to the festival - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Another familiar sight, the water puppet theater, also appeared in Red Square - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Russian guests were particularly fascinated by Vietnamese water puppetry - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly introduces Vietnamese lacquerware products to Russian guests - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The lacquerware collection showcased at the festival was personally designed by Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Russian model showcases Vietnamese ao dai (traditional dress) - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The ao dai fashion show impressed viewers with the harmonious blend of the beauty of two cultures - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly with delegates at the ao dai fashion show - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Coffee, one of the indispensable drinks of Vietnamese people, is also indispensable at the festival - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The photo exhibition brings Vietnam and its people closer to our Russian friends - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

At the festival, visitors can not only watch but also experience traditional Vietnamese musical instruments such as gongs and the T'rưng instrument,... - Photo: NGUYỄN KHÁNH

Prior to the festival's opening ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly met with representatives of the Moscow city government (left) and the First Vice Chairman of the Russian Senate (right). During the meeting, the Russian side highly appreciated the significance of the festival and the presence of the wife of General Secretary To Lam. - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The Vietnamese Cultural Festival will run from July 25th to August 3rd, 2025. Throughout the 10 days of the festival, Russian citizens and tourists from other countries visiting Red Square will be immersed in the rich flavors and colors of Vietnam.

True to its name, the festival includes a program of traditional music performances, puppet shows (both dry and water) with the theme "Sounds of the Tropics"; a booth showcasing Vietnamese cuisine with the theme "The Flavor of Com: The Essence of Hanoi, the Soul of the Red River"; an area for introducing and showcasing Vietnamese Ao Dai (traditional dress) "Hanoi - 12 Seasons of Flowers"; an exhibition of Vietnamese lacquerware products "Lacquer Garden - Tropical Colors"; and a photo exhibition space "Vietnam, the Country, the People".

Besides the ao dai fashion show, culinary delights, and water puppetry, there is also a special collection of lacquerware designed specifically for the festival by Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly herself.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tung-bung-khai-mac-le-hoi-van-hoa-viet-nam-dau-tien-บน-quang-truong-do-20250726041144466.htm#content-6