HÀ NỘI Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phuong Ly hosted a special friendship programme at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel on Friday on the occasion of the ongoing State visit to Việt Nam by the Republic of Korea (RoK) President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung.

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, together with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung, take a group photo in front of Đoan Môn Gate.

The leaders and their spouses then visited the exhibition title "A thousand years of Thăng Long – Hà Nội history from the underground” and “Royal treasures of Thăng Long”, showcasing artefacts recognised as national treasures.

At the Kính Thiên Palace area, they were introduced to the significance of this central space, where emperors and high-ranking mandarins once discussed state affairs, held court sessions, received foreign envoys and conducted major royal ceremonies over eight centuries in the capital of Thăng Long.

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, together with President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung, enjoy tea and watch a welcome artistic performance. VNA/VNS Photos

The programme opened with Xoan singing, a traditional art form originating from Phú Thọ Province, closely associated with the worship of the Hùng Kings, regarded as the founders of the Vietnamese nation. Recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding in 2011, it was removed from that list in 2017 and inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This marked the first time globally that a heritage element was transferred from the urgent safeguarding list, demonstrating the enduring vitality of Việt Nam’s cultural traditions and the strong commitment of the Party, the State and communities to their preservation and promotion.

This was followed by a performance of Vietnamese court music (Nhã nhạc), a royal musical tradition developed through successive feudal dynasties. Recognised by UNESCO in 2003 as intangible cultural heritage of humanity, Nhã nhạc created a solemn and refined musical space, traditionally performed at coronations, rituals and receptions for foreign envoys, reflecting the dignity of the nation. Its re-enactment highlighted the depth of Việt Nam’s ceremonial traditions and resonated with court music traditions in many other countries.

The Huế chầu văn performance, a ritual musical form rooted in folk beliefs, combined music, lyrics and performance elements to express reverence for ancestors and aspirations for peace and prosperity. With its dynamic melodies and varied rhythms, it created an emotionally rich artistic atmosphere, enriching spiritual life and reflecting the depth of Vietnamese cultural beliefs.

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, together with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung, take a group photo with the artists of the welcoming performance.

The programme concluded with the traditional Lục cúng hoa đăng dance, a ritual performance symbolising reverence and prayers for national peace and prosperity. With slow, solemn movements, balanced formations and the use of lanterns representing wisdom and peace, the performance offered a dignified finale, conveying messages of peace, friendship and sustainable development while showcasing the refined beauty of Vietnamese traditional arts.

The Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, was excavated in December 2002 across an area of 19,000sq.m. It preserves layers of the ancient royal citadel, once the centre of Việt Nam’s political power for over a millennium, developed across 13 centuries under successive dynasties, from Đại La, Đinh - Early Lê, Lý, Trần and Early Lê to Mạc, Later Lê and Nguyên. Today, it stands as one of the country’s most significant historical sites.

The special friendship programme held at the citadel underscored Việt Nam’s deep respect for its historical heritage, while offering an opportunity to showcase the nation’s cultural depth through a recreation of traditional court diplomacy, highlighting its long-standing spirit of hospitality and peaceful engagement. VNS

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, together with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long.

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, together with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long.

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, together with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long.

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm sees off President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung.

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, together with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long.

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly respectfully present South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung with a photo album documenting the official visit of the President and his spouse to Việt Nam.

General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly, together with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung, visit the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long.

Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm holds a friendly conversation with President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung.