HCM City (VNA) – A celebration to mark the traditional New Year festival of Cambodia,Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand was held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 11.
The eventwas co-organised by the HCM City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) andthe Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s HCM City chapter.
It wasattended by Most Venerable Thich Thien Tam, Vice President of the VBS’sExecutive Council and deputy head of the VBS’s HCM City chapter; representativesof Consulates General of Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand; and people from thesecountries who are living in the southern city.
Addressingthe event, HUFO Vice President and General Secretary Nguyen Van Manh said thecelebration is hoped to bolster mutual understanding between Vietnam andneighbouring countries, bringing practical benefits for national building anddevelopment of each nation.
Hestressed that Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand have enhancedcooperation over the years as close neighbours in the ASEAN Community. People fromthese countries have helped each other during their struggles for nationalindependence in the past and national construction and development at present,towards building an ASEAN Community of peace, stability, cooperation, andprosperity.
LuonBunvadh, a representative of the Cambodian Consulate General in HCM City, saidthe event offers a chance for people of participating countries to strengthensolidarity, adding that Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam sharevarious cultural similarities.
The New Year festival, called Chol Chnam Thmay inCambodia, Bunpimay in Laos, Thingyan in Myanmar and Songkran in Thailand, takesplace in April every year, attracting tourists with displays of traditionalculture, a festive atmosphere, and water splashing traditions to wash away badluck and pray for a good new year. –VNA