A Vietnam-Argentina centre opened in Buenos Aires on August 29 to promote Vietnamese culture as well as boost mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the centre’s Director, Dr. Pham Lien, said that he hopes a broad range of activities such as lectures, films, seminars, exhibitions, tourism promotion programmes and Vietnamese language classes will strengthen the two countries’ ties.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to Argentina, Nguyen Van Dao, praised the initiative to set up the centre, where Argentinean friends can find out more about Vietnam ’s culture and people.

Ambassador Dao went on to congratulate the Argentina-Vietnam Cultural Institute on its effective activities since it was first established 15 years ago, saying these have helped enhance mutual understanding between the peoples.

The ceremony closed with a fashion show of Ao Dai ( Vietnam ’s traditional long dress) using Argentinean models and then a number of dances including the Tango, which is famous throughout South America .

The centre will help carry out the programme of cultural cooperation for the 2010-12, which was first agreed in 2010 during an official visit to Argentina by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.-VNA