HÀ NỘI — Children from the ASEAN countries will gather in Hà Nội to attend a festival between May 29 and June 2 to honour cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.

The ASEAN Children’s Festival includes a series of events and activities for children (aged 9 years to 15 years) in the ASEAN countries for a cultural exchange and strengthening solidarity, after the founding of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) last year.

 “ASEAN is a common house of member countries, but, we acknowledge that the mutual understanding between peoples is still limited,” Phạm Việt Tiến, vice director of Việt Nam Television, said.

“Organising the festival is our initiative, and with support from the Ministry of Culture, we aim to create a cultural space for children who are owners-to-be of each country to understand each other,” he said.

“Vietnamese children will have a chance to know how their friends from ASEAN countries and learn, play and think with them, and vice versa,” he added.

The child delegates will visit the Việt Nam Museum of Ethnology, several beautiful spots in Hà Nội, enjoy a water puppet show at the Central Puppet Theatre and visit the President Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum.

They will also meet President Trần Đại Quang and attend the Children and Communication Forum.

On the occasion of International Children’s Day, the Museum of Ethnology will organise a celebration with the theme of children’s games in ASEAN countries on Sunday. The delegates will attend this event and perform some art pieces as well as display their traditional costumes.

The festival will be highlighted with an art performance which will be broadcast live on June 1 with the theme of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.

The delegations from each country will sing and dance in their traditional colours. Việt Nam will be represented by Sol Art, Young Hit – Young Beat and Vinschool children ensembles. — VNS