A friendship exchange welcoming the traditional New Year festival of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, India and Sri Lanka was held in Hanoi on April 8.

The event was organised by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the six countries’ embassies in Vietnam.

Addressing the occasion, HUFO President Dao Van Binh sent his best New Year wishes to people in the countries, saying that he hopes the exchange will help strengthen mutual understandings as well as tighten solidarity and cooperation between Hanoians and people in the rest of Asia.

Thai Ambassador to Vietnam, Panyarak Poolthup expressed his gratitude to the HUFO for holding the event. He said he believed that the cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and the countries will be further reinforced in the future.

During the event, participants enjoyed an art performance programme and tried Hanoi’s special food and traditional dishes of the countries.-VNA