The 2024 “Vietnam Day Abroad” program will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from November 15–17, and in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from December 13–15, featuring a wide range of vibrant cultural and artistic activities.
This year’s theme, “Converging Millennial Essence – Rising in a New Era,” marks 25 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia and 35 years between Vietnam and Brazil.
Vietnam Day Abroad Debuts in Latin America
At a press briefing in Hanoi on November 6, Lê Thị Hồng Vân, Director-General of the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO under Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the organizing committee, announced that this is the first time in its 12-year history that Vietnam Day Abroad will be held in a Latin American country.
The event in Brazil will take place just ahead of the G20 Summit, when the world’s 20 largest economies and numerous member nations gather—a prime opportunity for Vietnamese culture to reach a large audience of high-level delegates.
Showcasing Vietnam’s Cultural Treasures
Vietnam Day in Brazil will introduce unique cultural highlights such as traditional lion and dragon dances and water puppet performances.
Martial arts master Phạm Quang Long, President of the Vietnam Lion and Dragon Dance Federation, shared that the troupe will bring to Brazil two dragons modeled after the Lý dynasty, featuring bodhi leaf–shaped noses symbolizing Buddha nature, along with traditional Vietnamese lion and qilin figures that the group has painstakingly recreated.
Artist Trần Anh Tuấn will present his latest works in collaboration with Brazilian lacquer artist Fabi Mesquita.
A Taste of Vietnam’s Sidewalk Coffee
In a special highlight, Vietnam Day in Brazil will bring the charm of Vietnam’s iconic sidewalk coffee culture to the very country considered the cradle of coffee itself. This unique cultural exchange will give Brazilian visitors and international guests a chance to experience the authentic flavors and atmosphere of Vietnam’s beloved street-side coffee tradition.