As part of the official visits to Vietnam and participation in the ASEAN Future Forum 2026, Dao Thi Bich Thuy, spouse of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, welcomed Vandara Siphandone, spouse of the Lao prime minister; Pich Chamony, spouse of the Cambodian prime minister; and Thananon Niramit, spouse of the Thai prime minister to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.
During the gathering, Dao Thi Bich Thuy expressed confidence that the programme would provide an opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of each other’s countries, people and cultures, while further strengthening friendship, trust and people-to-people ties among ASEAN nations.
The delegation toured the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university, and received an introduction to its history, architecture and cultural significance.
Recognised as a Special National Relic Site, the Temple of Literature is widely regarded as the cradle of Vietnam’s education system and a symbol of the country's long-standing traditions of learning and respect for teachers, spanning nearly a millennium.
During the visit, the spouses met local artisans and took part in a range of traditional handicraft activities, including painting decorative patterns on conical hats, hand embroidery and observing silk weaving demonstrations.
The hands-on experiences offered the guests a closer insight into Vietnam’s traditional crafts, the skills of local artisans and the enduring vitality of cultural values preserved across generations.
At the conclusion of the programme, the spouses of the prime ministers of Laos, Cambodia and Thailand expressed their appreciation for the warm, thoughtful and gracious hospitality extended by the spouse of the Vietnamese prime minister.
Photos: Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs