Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung (4th from left) with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors/Charges General of Embassies of ASEAN countries in Washington DC. (Source: VNA)

On August 8, the Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP) and the ASEAN Committee in Washington (ACW) co-hosted the celebration of ASEAN Day 2024 at the US-ASEAN Center in Washington DC.

This is the first time the US Department of State has co-hosted with ACW to celebrate ASEAN Day 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.

The event was attended by nearly 200 delegates, including representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors and representatives of ACW member countries, diplomatic corps, members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative and the US-ASEAN Young Professionals Association; private organizations; student groups and ASEAN communities in the US.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung's wife, Ms. Tran Thi Bich Van (second from right) performed a Quan Ho Bac Ninh performance at the event. (Source: VNA)

After the commemorative speeches by representatives of the EAP and ACW, the embassies of ASEAN countries in Washington DC organized activities to display and promote culture, cuisine, and art.

Vietnam's booth attracted the attention of delegates with a booth introducing traditional costumes, water puppets, brocade, lacquerware, handicrafts, and a presentation about Vietnam tourism.

Cultural and culinary display booth of the Vietnamese Embassy in DC. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the US)

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.

Visitors visit Vietnam's exhibition booth (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the US)

The activities of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US on the occasion of ASEAN Day 2024 with diverse contents have contributed to spreading and promoting the beauty of the country and people of Vietnam to politicians, local people and the ASEAN community in the US.

Vietnamese cuisine at the event. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in the US)