Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa (R) presents a book on Vietnam to Marco de Niet, deputy director of the Leiden University Libraries.

The hand-over ceremony was attended by Marco de Niet, deputy director of the Leiden University Libraries; Marije Plomp, librarian for the South and Southeast Asian collection; Jonathan London, a lecturer at Leiden University; Ngo Lam, the person in charge of the collection on Vietnam; and a delegation of five officials of the Vietnam Film Institute (VFI), who are on a working trip to the Netherlands.

In her speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa expressed her belief that the book titles presented will work to enrich Leiden University’s documents on Vietnam in the early modern and modern periods, while providing Dutch and international students and scholars with an insight into the Vietnamese country, and its people and culture.

The event is also part of the practical activities to mark 45 years of Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties in 2018, she said.

For his part, Marco de Niet stated that the books on Vietnam were delivered to the Leiden University Library at the right time as its Asian Library has only recently been launched and the Vietnamese book space is in need of new materials.

The Leiden University Library has one of the world’s largest collections on Southeast Asia, with the collection of Vietnamese documents reaching three million artifacts, he said, adding that the new book titles on Vietnam presented by the Vietnamese embassy will be a good source of references for readers, helping to improve the understanding of international scholars and students regarding Vietnam and its relationships with the world.

In addition to the 41 books, Ambassador Ngo Thi Hoa and VFI Director Vu Nguyen Hung handed over five DVDs of Vietnamese films as supplements to the Vietnamese collection at the Leiden University Library.

After the book hand-over, the diplomat and VFI officials held a discussion with Dr. Jonathan London and officials of Leiden University and its Library about some of the lecturer’s recent studies on Vietnam, while listening to the recommendations from the Leiden side concerning activities to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Accordingly, the two sides will work together to implement activities of the Vietnam Year 2019 at the Leiden Asia Centre. Ambassador Hoa voiced her support for the initiatives and pledged to join the Leiden University Library and the VFI in implementing those ideas at an appropriate time.

Source: NDO

Related Topics

Lo Son commune’s traditional stream fishing festival

Hoa Binh - The land of epics and legends

Truong Kha temple festival 2025

Women's clothing of ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh

---

Hoa Binh’s cultural heritage: Muong Gongs, a timeless cultural treasure

Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.

Preserving, promoting Muong cultural heritage: Upholding Muong culture into contemporary life

Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.

Preserving essence of Muong culture: tradition meets modernity

The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.

Preserving Muong community’s identity – Journey from tradition to modernity: Part 1 – Exploring Muong culture region

The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.

Traditional festivals of Hoa Binh: A rich cultural heritage

For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.

Muong calendar – National intangible cultural heritage

Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.