Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of General Secretary To Lam, and Lis Cuesta Peraza, wife of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, visited the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater in Hanoi on the morning of 1/9.

The first ladies then walked from the theater to Ngoc Son Temple, a special national historical and cultural relic.

Accompanying the two first ladies was a young girl whose father is Vietnamese and mother is Cuban. She was born and raised in Cuba.

Peraza received a “Teu” puppet (a cheerful and mischievous character in Vietnamese water puppetry) as a gift from the theater, while the young girl received a “Fairy” puppet.

The first ladies waved to the people lining the streets. They were met with applause and chants of "Vietnam - Cuba" along the route.

The performance opened with the traditional “offering of water and betel leaves” act, which the two first ladies enjoyed.

Peraza praised the artistry of Vietnamese water puppetry and its strong folk culture roots. She also expressed her admiration for the artists' dedication to preserving and promoting this art form.

The group paused at The Huc Bridge to admire Turtle Tower and the Hanoi cityscape.

Inside the main temple, the first ladies offered incense, explored the site, and listened to presentations about the history and legends of Hoan Kiem Lake.

Peraza listened to a description of the preserved turtle specimen displayed in the temple.

A calligrapher presented Peraza with a calligraphy piece reading "Peace".

The two first ladies posed for photos.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and his wife are on a state visit to Vietnam that began on 31/8. Tomorrow, the Cuban leader will attend a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam's National Day.

Photo: Giang Huy