This morning in Bac Ninh province, Madam Le Thi Bich Tran, spouse of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, hosted an exchange with the ASEAN Women’s Circle in Hanoi (AWCH).

The AWCH was established on August 11, 2015, to commemorate the 48th anniversary of ASEAN’s founding and the 20th anniversary of Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN. The group comprises female ambassadors, spouses of ambassadors, female leaders and staff of ASEAN embassies in Hanoi, spouses of Foreign Ministry leaders, and female ministry officials.

AWCH aims to build a strong bridge of connection among ASEAN women and their partners in Vietnam, further strengthening solidarity and friendship. The group also promotes ASEAN’s image and identity through diverse initiatives in Vietnam.

Most recently, AWCH had the honor of welcoming Madam Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary To Lam, as a “special honorary guest.”

Madam Le Thi Bich Tran and the delegation visited and offered incense at Do Temple. There, they learned about the temple's history and the royal edict relocating the capital.

Madam Le Thi Bich Tran and AWCH members immersed themselves in the rich cultural ambiance of Kinh Bac. They experienced making Dong Ho folk paintings, phoenix-wing betel nut preparations, traditional “phu the” cakes, and enjoyed the melodic Quan ho folk songs.

Dong Ho folk painting has been nominated for UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, with a decision expected in 2025. Bac Ninh hopes the craft will be recognized as a cultural heritage of humanity in that year.

Madam Le Thi Bich Tran presented ASEAN female diplomats with water hyacinth handbags and fabric portrait artworks made by children with disabilities.

She and the diplomats tried their hand at crafting Dong Ho paintings. Thai Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya also participated in this cultural activity.

The group continued with other traditional experiences, including phoenix-wing betel nut folding. Madam Le Thi Bich Tran remarked that Bac Ninh is becoming increasingly recognized internationally, thanks to such cultural exchanges and even through popular social media trends like the creatively composed and widely shared song “Bac Bling.”

She emphasized the invaluable contributions of women to ASEAN’s development and Vietnam’s growth, from mothers and wives to entrepreneurs, scientists, politicians, and social activists.

Madam Le Thi Bich Tran expressed hope that future AWCH activities will continue to inspire and bring the ASEAN Community closer to the people across the region.

She also looked forward to continuing her companionship with AWCH to help promote the diversity and richness of ASEAN cultures to the world.

During the visit, Madam Le Thi Bich Tran introduced a special necklace she wore. Crafted from Vietnamese lacquer, the design featured ASEAN colors, symbolizing the message: “ASEAN is always in our hearts.”

On behalf of the diplomats, the spouse of the Malaysian Ambassador expressed her heartfelt thanks to Madam Le Thi Bich Tran, the AWCH, and Bac Ninh province for providing a meaningful and enriching opportunity to explore the beauty of Vietnam.

She shared that members of the group are bonded not only through their diplomatic roles but through a spirit of solidarity, friendship, mutual learning, and connection.

The group enjoyed performances of Quan ho folk songs such as Ngoi tua man thuyen and Moi trau.

Visiting Bac Ninh for the first time, the Malaysian Ambassador’s spouse expressed her emotional connection to the land, its scenic views, and the chance to explore and exchange cultural stories.

“It is moments like these that bring us closer together and deepen the precious friendships among our group members,” she said.

Tran Thuong - Pham Hai