Secretary General Tô Lâm and spouse participate in a tea event and traditional art showcase
South Korean President and Vietnamese General Secretary Attend Cultural Tea Party in Seoul
On August 12, 2025, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung hosted a tea party at the Blue House in Seoul. The event was also attended by General Secretary Tô Lâm and his wife Ngô Phương Ly, marking a significant moment in the ongoing cultural exchange between South Korea and Việt Nam.
The tea party served as a friendship-building event, aiming to strengthen the bonds between the two nations. It was part of a larger cultural exchange programme, which included traditional art performances from both Việt Nam and South Korea.
During the event, General Secretary Tô Lâm and his spouse were treated to a performance of traditional Korean art, including a captivating performance on the đàn bầu, a traditional gourd zither. However, it's important to note that, based on current information from authoritative sources, there is no public record or confirmation that đàn bầu performances were a part of the official state visit from August 10 to 13, 2025.
The gathering was covered by VNS, and President Lee Jae-myung was reported to have warmly welcomed General Secretary Tô Lâm during his state visit to South Korea. The event underscored agreements in trade, science, technology, culture, defense, and people-to-people exchanges, but specific cultural events like traditional Vietnamese musical instrument performances were not mentioned in the main press releases or news articles regarding this visit.
A highlight of the evening was the photograph of Kim Hye-kyung and Ngô Phương Ly, the First Ladies of South Korea and Việt Nam, respectively, smiling together. The tea party was a testament to the growing friendship and cooperation between South Korea and Việt Nam, and a celebration of their shared cultural heritage.
- As they bonded over the captivating performance of the traditional Vietnamese instrument đàn bầu during the cultural tea party, one could envision further collaborations between South Korea and Vietnam extending to the realms of music, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and travel.
- The items showcased at the tea party, including traditional Vietnamese tea sets, could serve as inspiration for future designs in the fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden industries, reflecting the ongoing cultural exchange between South Korea and Việt Nam.
- The following day, the First Ladies of South Korea and Việt Nam, Kim Hye-kyung and Ngô Phương Ly, might have explored the local food-and-drink scene in Seoul or even embarked on a travel adventure together, as they continued to celebrate and strengthen their shared cultural bond.
