HÀ NỘI — The scent of flower sachets – a popular Thai handicraft product – combined with puppets, batik paintings and traditional art performances have recreated Thai cultural space in Hà Nội.

An exhibition of handicrafts from four regions of the country has opened in the capital city with the aim of showcasing the fineness, creativity and diversity of Thai art and culture.

These include the art of making puppets, flower sachets, batik painting and fruit and vegetable carvings, besides banana leaf and fresh flower arrangements. By providing unique hands-on experiences in the workshops that are full of fun, organisers hope that Thai handicrafts can become something to be enjoyed by everybody, along with providing better understanding of Thai arts and culture in the process.

Visitors can watch artisans showcase their skills such as in making puppets.

The head of the puppet is usually made of light wood such as cotton wood and is about 10cm-15cm in diameter. A lot of attention is paid to the making and painting of the head as it is the part that is visible to the audience. The head is attached to a hollow bamboo stick, about 3cm-5cm in diameter and 50cm long, making up the body of the puppet and covered with a delicately embroidered cloth.

Torsak Sutthisa said he was happy to come to Việt Nam and introduce Thailand’s batik painting.

“The technique involves careful dripping of hot wax onto the fabric, in patterns or areas where no paint will be applied, and the painting of usually bright colours onto the remaining areas,” he said.

This process may be repeated as many times as it is required to paint all the colours. Thus, the more colourful the finished product, the more complicated it was to make, and the more valuable it is.

A troupe of 40 artists from Thailand also brings various dances to entertain Vietnamese people, such as cock fighting dance, small cymbal dance and masked dance.

The exhibition is part of the Thai Cultural Days celebration - held by Thailand’s Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with Việt Nam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism - to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“For four decades, Thailand and Việt Nam have enjoyed exceptionally close ties, especially at the people-to-people level. Therefore, cultural collaboration is undoubtedly a fundamental aspect that brings about even better understanding among our people,” Huỳnh Vĩnh Ái, deputy minister of culture, sports and tourism, said.

This special collaboration presents an opportunity for top government executives to visit the other country from July to August to explore potential areas of bilateral cultural co-operation, followed by a number of cultural activities such as Thai traditional performances at Hà Nội Opera House and Quảng Ninh Art Centre.

The Vietnamese Cultural Days will be organised in Thailand from August 10 to 13 with Vietnamese traditional performances at the National Theatre in Bangkok and in Nakhon Panom, and an exhibition of Vietnamese art and culture at Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre, Bangkok.

In Việt Nam, the exhibition of Thai art and culture will run till July 31 at the Việt Nam Exhibition Centre for Culture and Arts, 2 Hoa Lư Street, Hà Nội. — VNS