On Friday, the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations, the city branch of the Viet Nam - Laos Friendship Association, the Consulate General of Laos in Da Nang, and the Da Nang University of Education held the Bunpimay Festival 2023, the traditional New Year of Laos, in the city.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh speaking at the festival. Photo: X.D

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival, Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh sent his best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to the leaders, officials, people and students of Laos who are studying and working in Da Nang.

He remarked that this festival provided the good opportunity for the peoples of the two countries to better understand their culture and customs.

According to Vice Chairman Minh, over the past time, the city has always focused on cooperation and friendship with Lao localities, as well as supported Laotian provinces in many fields, including infrastructure development, medical equipment, urban planning and high-quality human resource training.

Till date, Da Nang has signed 35 agreements and memoranda of understanding with 7 localities of Laos. The city's cooperation and support programmes with south central provinces of Laos have been implemented effectively. Notably, VND116.95 billion was spent on supporting on south central provinces of Laos during the 2018-2022 period.

Since 2002, the city has provided scholarships to more than 850 Lao students from the provinces of Savannakhet, Champasak and Salavane to study undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Da Nang.

Many Lao students who have been trained from member schools of the University of Da Nang have become key officials in the government agencies of their province after graduation. They have acted as bridge to maintain and tighten the friendship and solidarity relationship between Da Nang and Lao localities.

Mr. Minh said that the exchange of visits by high-ranking delegations between Da Nang and Lao localities has always been maintained regularly in order to strengthen external political relations, and create a solid foundation in implementing cooperation programmes.

In addition to the cultural and political diplomatic significance, the Bunpimay Festival is also a spiritual gift that the authorities and people of Da Nang send to leaders, officials and employees of the Consulate General of Laos in Da Nang and the people and students of Laos who are living, working and studying in the city, thereby helping to alleviate homesickness and feel the warm and sincere affection that Vietnamese and Da Nang friends have for them.

This year’s Bunpimay Festival celebrations featured traditional rituals and such activities as tying strings around people's wrists, Buddha bathing, splashing water for good luck, cultural and artistic exchanges and stalls introducing the characteristics of culinary culture of the two countries.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh (4th, left) and Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Council Nguyen Thi Anh Thi (3rd, left) presenting flowers to congratulate the Bunpimay Festival 2023. Photo: X.D

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh and other delegates attending a ceremony of tying strings around people's wrists. Photo: X.D

A musical performance of Laos students performed at the festival. Photo: X.D

During the festival, there are many typical food stalls of Da Nang and Laos. Photo: X.D

Reporting by XUAN DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG