South Korean first lady wears ao dai, enjoys water puppetry

The wife of General Secretary and President To Lam, Ngo Phuong Ly, and South Korean first lady Kim Hae Kyung watched water puppetry during their visit to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Ngo Phuong Ly and Kim Hae Kyung interact with artists and try controlling the puppets.

On 23/4, Ngo Phuong Ly, wife of Vietnam's General Secretary and President To Lam, welcomed South Korean first lady Kim Hae Kyung to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi. During the visit, Mrs. Kim Hae Kyung wore a traditional Vietnamese ao dai, a gift from Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly. This cultural exchange was part of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to Vietnam from 21-24/4.

Artists perform acts rich in Vietnamese cultural identity.

The two first ladies shared tea and traditional cakes before enjoying a water puppet performance. Water puppetry is a unique traditional folk theater art of Vietnam, deeply rooted in the wet rice civilization. Artists from the Vietnam Water Puppet Theater presented various acts. The stage for water puppetry is a pool of water, where wooden puppets are skillfully manipulated by artisans hidden behind a curtain, using poles and strings. These performances vividly depict Vietnamese folk tales, historical events, and daily life activities.

Artists wearing traditional Korean Hanbok perform on the water.

The two first ladies visit the exhibition of traditional Korean costumes at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and Mrs. Kim Hae Kyung interacted with the artists and even tried their hand at controlling the puppets. They took souvenir photos with the performers. Mrs. Kim Hae Kyung expressed her hope that water puppetry would soon be introduced in South Korea, fostering greater appreciation and understanding of Vietnam's rich culture among the Korean public. Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly echoed these sentiments, envisioning not only more cultural tours by Vietnamese and Korean artists in each country but also expanded cooperation in the cultural industry, an area where South Korea excels and Vietnam is focusing on development.

Kim Hae Kyung expresses surprise and particular delight upon learning about the "Korean Room" in the Kite Wing, a vibrant symbol of cultural cooperation between the two nations, showcasing traditional Korean homes, ancient festivals, and contemporary Korean life.

During their tour, the first ladies visited the Bronze Drum building, where they learned about Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups and the distinct cultural heritage of communities across the northern, central, and southern regions. They were particularly interested in the Vietnamese "len dong" ritual, a ceremony within Mother Goddess worship, recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, noting its similarities to the "Kut" ritual in Korean Shamanic beliefs. Mrs. Kim Hae Kyung also toured the exhibition of traditional Korean costumes within the museum and expressed delight upon discovering the "Korean Room" in the Kite Wing. This room, a vibrant symbol of cultural cooperation, showcases traditional Korean homes, ancient festivals, and contemporary Korean life.

Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and Mrs. Kim Hae Kyung held "Teu" and "Tien" puppets, iconic characters in water puppetry. These puppets are typically crafted from fig wood, a lightweight timber that floats on water. Their cheerful, whimsical forms are often humorous and highly symbolic.

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, established in 1995 and opened to the public in 1997, attracts over 500,000 visitors, experts, and scholars annually. They come to explore the rich diversity of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. The museum houses more than 30,000 artifacts, with over 1,600 permanently displayed in the Bronze Drum building. In 2006, the Kite Wing was constructed, providing a dedicated space for exhibitions on cultures beyond Vietnam.