Korean cuisine, music entertains visitors at Cultural Friendship Street

The Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) Cultural Friendship Street took place on Tran Van Lai street, My Dinh urban area, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi, on December 10-11. This area is called the Korean Quarter in Hanoi, as a lot of Koreans are living and working here. Visitors to the event can experience many activities imbued with the RoK’s culture at more than 100 stalls with diverse themes such as cuisine, beauty, traditional costumes, products of enterprises of the two countries. Many interactive games will also take place such as Korean quiz, Korean karaoke, Squid Game, wine tasting and other traditional games of both the RoK and Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The street is decorated with Hoi An lanterns of Vietnam and the RoK’s Cheongsa Chorong laterns. Lanterns in Hoi An are varied in size, shape, colour and material. They are often shaped like circle, octagon, hexagon and cylinder About the materials, bamboo and wood are most popular to make the frame and silk is the most favourite fabric to be the covering. Meanwhile, the Cheongsa Chorong latern is typically made by joining red and blue silk shades and hanging a candle inside the body. Although used historically in wedding ceremonies, it is widely displayed in various cultural exhibitions today in the Republic of Korea. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The two-day festival was organised by the Association of Koreans in Hanoi on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the RoK. Thirty years after the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, the relationship between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) has been thriving across various fields. Cultural cooperation is considered an important pillar in the bilateral ties. In an effort to enhance the bilateral ties, a lot of cultural exchange activities have been organised in both Vietnam and the RoK over the past years, especially in 2022 as the two countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Korean street food attracts a lot of Vietnamese youths. At the festival, there are stalls introducing famous Korean cuisine such as kimchi, mixed rice, mixed vermicelli, grilled chopped fish as well as grilled meat marinated with typical spices from the land of kimchi. In particular, visitors can find Korean restaurants near the venue to enjoy more special dishes, and taste authentic Korean food right in the Vietnamese capital city. In the food culture of the RoK, rice is the main food, supplemented by meat, fish and vegetable side dishes to maintain a balanced diet. Many Korean dishes look hot and spicy, and the one that plays an important role is chili. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Many young Vietnamese like Korean street food such as tornado potato, Tteokbokki or gimbab, to name just a few. Tteokbokki is a spicy stir-fried dish that usually consists of cylinder-shaped rice cakes, sweet red chili sauce, and grilled chopped fish. The dish is considered one of the top street food items in the Republic of Korea, and can usually be bought from street vendors known as pojangmacha. Meanwhile, Gimbap, also romanised as kimbap, is a Korean dish made from cooked rice and ingredients such as vegetables, fish, and meat that are rolled in gim - dried sheets of seaweed - and served in bite-sized slices (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Coming to the event, visitors can try on the Korean traditional costume - Hanbok. The Koreans love their traditional costume Hanbok just as the Vietnamese love Ao Dai. Hanbok can be seen at weddings, funerals, folk festivals, special anniversaries and many other Korean events. A special feature about hanbok is the shape, having a slim top and wide bottom, similar to a bell. The tightly fitting jacket attractively reflects the shape of the upper body. The wide and flexible skirt flatters the wearer’s gracefulness by hiding the movements of the lower body, so the wearer appears to be floating on air. A full set of hanbok items for men consists of a vest, jeogori (top jacket), and a pair of pants while women's include a jeogori, undershirt, skirt, and a pair of pantaloons. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnamese women look charming in Korean traditional costume. The Koreans love their traditional costume Hanbok just as the Vietnamese love Ao Dai. Hanbok appears at weddings, funerals, folk festivals, special anniversaries and many other Korean events. A special feature about hanbok is the shape, having a slim top and wide bottom, similar to a bell. The tightly fitting jacket attractively reflects the shape of the upper body. The wide and flexible skirt flatter the wearer’s gracefulness by hiding the movements of the lower body, so the wearer appears to be floating on air. A full set of hanbok items for men consists of a vest, jeogori (top jacket), and a pair of pants while women's include a jeogori, undershirt, skirt, and a pair of pantaloons. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The festival sees the participation of traditional art troupes from the Republic of Korea. The main stage also features famous Korean performers such as: Byun Jin Sub Ha So Ra, Pilgrim and Yudal. Byun Jin Sub is a male singer who once "dominated" the Korean music scene in the 1980s. In 1988, he released his first album “Being Alone.” The songs “Being Alone,” “It’s too late,” “Like Birds,” and “All I can give you is love” topped the music charts, helping his album become popular. With 1.8 million copies sold, “Being Alone” became the first “million-selling” album in the Republic of Korea. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A Samulnori performance. Samulnori, also known as the game of four animals, has become a traditional culture of Korea. Simply consisting of 4 rudimentary musical instruments, Samulnori has created many folk-sounding rhythms, fully describing the agricultural life of the Joseon period (1392-1910) of the Korean people. Samulnori is a form of dance performance that combines singing and the rhythm of four instruments performed by four musicians on stage. Buk and Janggu (in leather) represent the sound of the Earth, while Jing and Kkwaenggwari (in metal) represent the sound of heaven and the players. For this reason, it is imperative to have a singer to take part in performing Samulnori in the traditional fashion. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnamese kids take part in a quiz on Korean culture. It can be said that Korean culture has been popular in Vietnam thanks to the presence of ‘Hallyu’ in the country. In the 2000s, the term ‘Hallyu’, which literally translates to "the Korean wave", became familiar to Vietnamese youths thanks to the popularity of RoK pop music and television dramas. From the early 2010s, the spread of the Korean wave in the Southeast Asian nation was mostly led by K-pop boy and girl groups known as idol stars, such as Big Bang, Girls' Generation (SNSD), and Super Junior. For the fans, Korean pop means far more than just a catchy song or a performance. It is bringing something new, authentic, and distinct to the game in a way that they can relate to intimately. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A performance by Korean opera artists. The two-day festival was organised by the Association of Koreans in Hanoi on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea. Thirty years after the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, the relationship between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea has been thriving across various fields. Cultural cooperation is considered an important pillar in the bilateral ties. In an effort to enhance the bilateral ties, a lot of cultural exchange activities have been organised in both Vietnam and the RoK over the past years. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

New RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Oh Young-ju attended the Vietnam-RoK Cultural Friendship Street. In her speech, the RoK diplomat showed her belief that this event will be a good opportunity for the people of the two countries to exchange, and they can enhance friendship and mutual understanding through cultural activities. The festival took place on Tran Van Lai street, My Dinh urban area, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi, on December 10-11. This area is called the Korean Quarter in Hanoi, as a lot of Koreans are living and working here. Visitors to the event can experience many activities imbued with the RoK’s culture at more than 100 stalls with diverse themes such as cuisine, beauty, traditional costumes, products of enterprises of the two countries. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Chang Eun-sook, Chairwoman of the Association of Koreans in Hanoi, said that the event will be held annually to serve as an attractive destination for both Korean and Vietnamese visitors, especially young people. Speaking at a press conference to announce the organisation of the Vietnam-Korea Cultural Friendship Street on December 7, Chang said that “this is the first event to be held in a new location, known as the Korean Quarter in Hanoi. We prepare a variety of attractive cultural and artistic shows and performances. It is hoped that the event will receive the attention and participation of the people so that the "Vietnam-Korea Cultural Friendship Street" can become a famous cultural event with symbolic meaning for the harmony between the two countries”. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In addition to Korean culture, the festival also has a Christmas space for visitors to take pictures to check-in. It can be said that Korean culture has been popular in Vietnam thanks to the presence of ‘Hallyu’ in the country. In the 2000s, the term ‘Hallyu’, which literally translates to "the Korean wave", became familiar to Vietnamese youths thanks to the popularity of RoK pop music and television dramas. Television blockbusters such as Medical Brothers, The Autumn Heart, Glass Slippers, Winter Sonata, and Dae Jang-geum have taken a root in the memory of many Vietnamese viewers, making them among the most loved Korean dramas in Vietnam for almost 20 years. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The Vietnam-Korea Cultural Friendship Street festival attracts a large number of Korean visitors and Vietnamese people who are interested in Korean culture. According to the organiser, the festival attracts about 70,000 visitors a day, far exceeding the original estimate of 10,000. Visitors to the event can experience many activities imbued with the RoK’s culture at more than 100 stalls. There are diverse themes such as cuisine, beauty, traditional costumes, products of enterprises of the two countries. Many interactive games will also take place such as Korean quiz, Korean karaoke, Squid Game, wine tasting and other traditional games of both the RoK and Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The main stage attracts a large audience. Vietnamese people are attracted to the Korean culture. Vietnam and the Republic of Korea have seen extensive cultural exchange, said RoK Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency in January this year with regard to the meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Van Hung taking place earlier. Hwang expressed his hope that the 30th anniversary is a good chance for the two countries to learn more about each other’s history and culture, thereby creating an environment in which they can explore new cooperation fields such as sports and music. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnamese singer Trinh Thang Binh performs at the festival. Chang Eun-sook, Chairwoman of the Association of Koreans in Hanoi, said that the event will be held annually to serve as an attractive destination for both Korean and Vietnamese visitors, especially young people. Speaking at a press conference earlier, Chang said that “this is the first event to be held in a new location, known as the Korean Quarter in Hanoi. We have prepared a variety of attractive cultural and artistic shows and performances. It is hoped that the event will receive due attention and participation so that the "Vietnam-Korea Cultural Friendship Street" can become a famous cultural event with symbolic meaning for the harmony between the two countries”. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnamese singer Trinh Thang Binh talks to the audience. The two-day festival was organised by the Association of Koreans in Hanoi on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the RoK. Thirty years after the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, the relationship between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) has been thriving across various fields. Cultural cooperation is considered an important pillar in the bilateral ties. In an effort to enhance the bilateral ties, a lot of cultural exchange activities have been organised in both Vietnam and the RoK over the past years. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnamese singer Suni Ha Linh performs at the festival. Suni Ha Linh took part in the Kpop Star Hunt season 2 in Vietnam in 2012 and became the runner-up of the contest. The Vietnam-Korea Cultural Friendship Street festival attracts a large number of Korean visitors and Vietnamese people who are interested in Korean culture. According to the organiser, the festival attracts about 70,000 visitors a day, far exceeding the original estimate of 10,000. The two-day festival was organised by the Association of Koreans in Hanoi on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the RoK. (Photo: VietnamPlus)