Enchanted by Chinese arts, Vietnamese students, educators push more exchanges

When Chinese youths performed spectacular backflip kicks, gracefully danced with lissome long sleeves or sent guests traditional calligraphic works in Hanoi on Tuesday, hundreds of Vietnamese students and teachers exclaimed with joy, waving national flags of the two countries.

Children perform during a cultural and artistic exchange performance between Chinese and Vietnamese youngsters in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 2, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Featuring both traditional and modern performing arts of China and Vietnam, the China-Vietnam art program and youth exchange took place at Lomonosov Primary School with the presence of Wang Jiarui, chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Xiong Bo, Chinese ambassador to Vietnam.

The cultural exchange included songs sung by Vietnamese students, and fine performances of Chinese arts, including Peking Opera, traditional dances, kungfu, traditional musical instrument playing and calligraphy. The Chinese performers were members from Peace Angel Art Troupe of the Soong Ching Ling Foundation.

Many Vietnamese grade students expressed their delight at the art program and youth exchange, and desire to enjoy such activities more often, both in Vietnam and China.

"We have been eager to meet Chinese friends for several days. Their performances today made me very excited. I want them to perform more in Vietnam, and my schoolmates to perform in China," a boy named Trinh Xuan Phuc at the class 4A2 of Lomonosov Primary School told Xinhua after the art program.

His classmate Tran Minh Anh said she liked the Chinese traditional dance and kungfu performances the best, because the dancers and fighters were not only very flexible and graceful, but also energetic and powerful.

Meanwhile, their schoolmate Nguyen Duc Tuan Tu at the class of 3A3 could not help showing his deep interest in Chinese martial arts. "Seeing the spectacular kungfu performance with fists, cudgel and swords makes me want to practice Chinese martial arts," he said, waving a small national flag of China.

"I like the art program and youth exchange today. We'd like to strengthen cultural exchanges with China," Nguyen Thi Thu Mai, principal of Lomonosov Primary School, told Xinhua.

With more cultural exchanges between Vietnamese and Chinese people, especially youths and kids, their friendship and cooperation will become closer, helping bring about rosier future for them, she said, pointing her hand to a Vietnamese slogan painted red on the school's green buildings "Khoi dau vung chac, vung buoc tuong lai" (Starting with a firm foundation, stepping firmly in the future).

"Vietnam and China should foster our friendship and cooperation in different fields, especially culture, education and training," said the principal in green "ao dai" (Vietnam's traditional long dress).

The school's vice principal Le Minh Chang said "our school has another slogan 'Nurturing the future.' For their brighter future, we help our students not only enrich their knowledge academically but also enhance their confidence and performing styles through extra activities like the cultural exchange with Chinese peers today."

"Chinese culture is diversified with many enchanting songs, dances, classical pieces of Peking Opera, and traditional martial arts. We do hope that through many channels, including the state, the foundation and the enterprise, cultural exchanges between Vietnamese and Chinese youths will be bolstered," Nguyen Phuong Hoa, deputy director of the International Cooperation Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told Xinhua.