Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has delivered a message of peace and cultural preservation at the International Indigenous Peoples’ Conference for Peace and Development held in Caracas, Venezuela, from December 8-9.
The conference gathered thousands of delegates and representatives from 15 countries, with Vietnam as the only Asian nation taking part.
Vietnam brought to the event a colourful and deeply rooted cultural narrative, including stories of highland ethnic minority women who quietly preserve the essence of Vietnamese culture through every thread, song, and traditional custom.
Vietnamese Director Nguyen Bong Mai delivered the theme “Sustaining Peace Through Cultural Preservation,” leaving a strong impression through her vivid depictions of women from Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups, those who quietly keep the cultural flame alive and write stories of peace through daily life.
In her presentation, she highlighted powerful images: a young girl denied access to medical care, an elderly artisan working tirelessly at her loom, and a university graduate returning to her mountain village to nurture local traditions.
The future of girls and the strength of women in cultural preservation are not two parallel lines. They are threads woven into the same fabric on which indigenous communities write their own stories, Mai said.
A key highlight of Vietnam’s booth was the display of traditional costumes of the Khang, Xa Phang, Red Dao, Lu and Black Ha Nhi ethnic groups. Each pattern, material and stitch told a story of harmony between people and nature, reflecting the enduring vitality of mountain communities. The vibrant colours of Vietnamese culture captivated nearly 2,000 participants, serving as a warm and friendly greeting from a peace-loving nation.
Speaking at the opening session of the conference, Venezuelan Minister for Indigenous Peoples Clara Vidal underscored that culture is a firm pathway toward peace and sustainable development, especially as many indigenous communities worldwide face the loss of livelihoods and cultural identity due to unchecked resource exploitation.
She noted that preserving indigenous identity amid globalisation requires comprehensive strategies centred on self-determination, education, culture, and economic resilience, enabling communities to adapt without being assimilated./.
