Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary and State President To Lam, invited Kim Hae Kyung, spouse of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, to visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and enjoy a water puppet performance on April 23.
The museum is one of Vietnam’s leading cultural institutions, preserving and presenting the traditions of the country’s 54 ethnic groups.
Welcoming her guest, Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her pleasure at meeting Kim Hae Kyung again and was touched that the South Korean first lady wore a traditional Vietnamese ao dai, a gift presented during a previous meeting.
Kim Hae Kyung thanked her host for the warm reception, noting her appreciation for the ao dai, which she said reflects the elegance of Vietnamese women and is well suited to cultural diplomacy.
The two first ladies toured exhibition spaces showcasing artefacts, customs and daily life across Vietnam’s diverse ethnic communities, expressing admiration for the country’s rich and vibrant cultural identity.
At the Kite Building, Kim Hae Kyung showed particular interest in the “Korea Room”, a symbol of cultural cooperation that introduces traditional Korean hanok architecture, festivals and contemporary life. Ngo Phuong Ly noted that many Koreans in Vietnam feel a strong sense of connection when visiting the space.
A highlight of the visit was a tea gathering accompanied by traditional cakes and a water puppet performance at the outdoor theatre, a distinctive folk art form originating from northern Vietnam’s Red River Delta.
Performed by artists from the Vietnam National Puppetry Theatre, the show featured traditional pieces such as “Dragon and phoenix reunion”, “Spring peach song” and “Spiritual dance”, vividly portraying rural life, festivals and spiritual beliefs.
Kim Hae Kyung expressed her admiration for the performances and hoped the art form could be introduced in South Korea in the future, helping Korean audiences better understand Vietnamese culture.
Ngo Phuong Ly said she hoped for expanded cultural exchanges, including performances and broader cooperation in cultural industries, an area where South Korea has strong expertise and Vietnam is seeking to develop.
At the end of the visit, representatives of the Vietnam National Puppetry Theatre presented the two first ladies with traditional wooden puppets, a symbol of the art form, before a commemorative photo session.
Photos: Nguyen Pham