This meaningful event aimed to strengthen exchanges and promote the distinctive cultural values of the two localities, thereby helping to foster friendship and promote cooperative relations between Viet Nam and the RoK.
Viet Nam and the RoK enjoy increasingly close relations of friendship and comprehensive cooperation across various fields. In the process of fostering these positive relations, cultural exchanges have always played an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and bonds between the peoples of the two countries, while spreading traditional values and opening up opportunities for future cooperation.
In this spirit, the friendly cooperative relationship between Ninh Binh Province (Viet Nam) and Jeju City (RoK) has been nurtured through practical cooperation activities.
Building on these positive achievements in cooperation, the arts performance by the Gosan Fishers’ Association from Hangyeong Town, Jeju City, provided an opportunity to introduce “Jeju Haenyeo Culture” to Ninh Binh Province. This culture has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The programme thus provided an opportunity to appreciate the cultural beauty of each locality and further strengthen the friendship between Viet Nam and the RoK.
Through the programme, audiences had the opportunity to learn about the lives, work and traditional cultural values of the Haenyeo community, the women of Jeju renowned for their resilience, perseverance and love of the sea. This is not only a unique cultural feature that defines Jeju’s identity, but also reflects the harmonious bond between people and nature.
The programme was carefully staged, featuring a range of distinctive artistic performances that harmoniously combined the cultural identities of the two localities and the two countries. Ninh Binh presented emotionally evocative melodies through performances including “My Homeland, Viet Nam” and “Song of Ho Chi Minh”.
Meanwhile, artists from Jeju introduced audiences to unique traditional cultural features through performances including “Arirang”, a Korean folk song; “Echoes of Prayers”, featuring a prayer dance and a Haenyeo ritual for peace and good fortune; “The Breath of Life”, featuring Haenyeo songs and dances, an anchovy fishing song and a winnowing dance; and the Mulheobeok water-jar dance.
Each performance told a cultural story, offering audiences rich artistic experiences and helping them gain a deeper understanding of the customs, practices, spiritual life and identity of the people of the two localities.
The Ninh Binh–Jeju cultural and arts exchange programme left a positive impression, helping to honour and promote the values of traditional cultural heritage while creating further opportunities for exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening ties between the peoples of the two localities.
Through this cultural bridge, the friendly and cooperative relations between Ninh Binh Province and Jeju City in particular, and between Viet Nam and the RoK in general, will continue to be nurtured and develop in an increasingly profound, substantive and sustainable manner across various fields.
