Celebrate ASEAN Day 2024 in Washington DC
On August 8, 2024, the Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP) and the ASEAN Committee in Washington (ACW) co-hosted the 2024 ASEAN Day celebration at the US-ASEAN Center in Washington DC. This is the first time the US Department of State has co-hosted with ACW the ASEAN Day celebration to raise awareness of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, promote the newly established US-ASEAN Center in 2023, and provide an opportunity for interested organizations and individuals to learn about ASEAN and its member countries.
Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dzung (4th from left) with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors/Chargé d'Affaires of ASEAN countries in DC (Source: VNA)
The event was attended by nearly 200 delegates, including representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors and representatives of ACW member countries, the diplomatic corps, members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative and the US-ASEAN Young Professionals Association; private organizations; student groups and communities of ASEAN countries in the US.
After the commemorative speeches by representatives of the EAP and ACW, the ASEAN embassies in Washington DC organized activities to display and promote culture, cuisine, and art. The Vietnamese booth attracted the attention of delegates with a booth introducing traditional costumes, water puppets, brocade, lacquerware, handicrafts, and a presentation about Vietnam tourism. The delegates also enjoyed Vietnamese cuisine such as spring rolls, shredded chicken, sesame candy, cashew nuts, etc. More specifically, the Vietnamese Embassy was one of four ASEAN countries to have a performance with a charming Bac Ninh Quan Ho performance, helping to promote and introduce Vietnam's intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO in 2009.
Spouse of Ambassador of Vietnam Mdm Tran Thi Bich Van (second from right) and the performance of Quan Ho Bac Ninh at the event (Source: VNA).
The activities of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US on ASEAN Day 2024 with a variety of contents contributed to spreading and promoting the beauty of Vietnam, the country and its people to politicians, local people and the ASEAN community in the US./.
Some photos at the event:
Cultural and culinary display booth of the Vietnamese Embassy in DC
Visitors visiting the Vietnamese display booth
Vietnamese cuisine at the event